Mary認為訴諸法律途徑,根本無濟于事;她堅信掃除仿冒最好的方法就是自己經營當地的市場,加入競爭的行列。但Dave和 Bob則持不同看法。面臨意見沖突的場面,免不了要使用表示存疑及回避問題的用語。
英文正文
Mary: We all agree that Wang has been doing a good job for us making our watches, right?
Others: Right.
Mary: What they are doing is selling in a market that we don't. They are selling to people that want the same name, quality and design, but don't want such high prices. So Wang just sells the watches at high enough prices to keep their heads above water.
Bob: That's right. But we already know that, Mary. I'm not sure what you're saying has any relevance here.
Mary: The answer is sitting right under your nose. If we ask Wang to sell cheaper watches for us, they won't really be knockoffs anymore. We can share the profits with them.
Dave: How can we sell our watches with two different prices?
Mary: People who buy the fake watches never buy the expensive ones. People who buy the expensive ones don't buy the fake ones.
Bob: But won't our regular customers be angry if they find we're selling the same watches at much lower prices? Won't they know we're pulling the wool over their eyes?
Mary: We could use a different name that sounds almost the same, and change the designs a little. Umm... nobody would know. Dave, wasn't there a German company that did this, about ten years ago?
Dave: Hm. I can't really recall; I'll have to get back to you on that.
Mary: OK. Would anyone like to add anything to what I've said?
句型總結
● 表達質疑
1. I'm not sure what you're saying has any relevance here.
2. I'm not sure if what you're saying has anything to do with our problem.
3. I'm not sure if what you're saying really matters in this case.
4. I'm not sure if what you're saying is relevant to our problem.
"relevance"是‘關聯;適切’,詞組用法為"have relevance to..."-‘與…有關’。這句話適用于正式場合,表示對方所言對議題并無意義。開頭語由于是"I'm not sure"而不是"I don't think",因此可避免直接對峙的場面。不過這句話易造成不是對就是錯的局面,因此若對方辯護有效,自己會有全盤皆輸的危險。
● 暫不回答
1. I can't really recall; I'll have to get back to you on that.
2. I can't quite remember; I'll need to do a little checking and get back to you.
3. I can't fully remember; I'll have to check up on it.
4. I can't recall all the facts; I'll have to get back to you.
"recall"是‘想起’;"get back to someone on something"的意思是‘下次再和某人談某事’。這句型適用于想避而不答,以免不慎的回答落人口實之時。它能讓對方不再把矛頭指向你,使你有機會脫身,找時間準備數據,延長到下次再為自己答辯。
● 詢問意見
1. Would anyone like to add anything to (what I've said)?
2. Would anyone care to comment?
3. Would anyone like to give their ideas on this?
4. Would anyone care to add their thoughts (to the discussion)?
"add"是‘增加;附言’;這句話是請他人發表意見,來補充自己的看法。由于用的是"add"(補充)而非"comment"(批評),暗示請發言者站在自己的角度或看法,再作補充,而非給予大家較大的空間,任由批評。這即是"add"一字所暗藏之玄機。
● More 邀詢意見
在會議桌上,身為主持會議者,通常都需要主動且積極地征詢各路英雄的想法及提案;在集思廣益下決定出最適當的方案。適合對個人的邀詢
What are your views on...?
What are your feelings about...?
What are your feelings on this?
What do you think about...?
What's your opinion about that?
適合對全體的邀詢
Any reaction to that?
Has anybody any strong feelings about/ views on that?
What's the general view on/ feeling about that?
Has anybody any comments to make?