1. The US is anattractive market. Its business culture,which (非限制性定語從句)has brought the world "shareholder value" and "IPOs",has been leadingcommercial thinking(現場完成進行時) in recent years and willcontinue to do so. Butwhoeverwants to succeed in the US(主語從句)needs to remember the rules of the game.
1、美國是一個富有吸引力的(attractive)市場。它給世界帶來的諸如“股東價值”和 “首次公開募股”的商業文化(business culture)近幾年來(in recent years)一直引導著(has been leading)商業思想(commercialthinking),并且在未來幾年內還將保持(continue to do so 繼續這么做)。但是無論是誰,想要在美國取得成功,都必須記住游戲的規則。
2. US businessis described bythelyricsof the song New York, New York:"If you canmake ithere, you can make it anywhere!" Yet a euphoric approach to business is by no means enough.Although business communicationin the USis pleasant andeasygoing, it isat the same time ruthlessly focused.
2、美國的商業,在《紐約,紐約》這首歌的歌詞(lyrics)中是這樣描述的:“如果你能在這里取得成功(make it 達到預定目標),你就能在別的任何地方取得成功!” 但是愉快的做生意的方法(euphoricapproach tobusiness)是絕對不夠的(by no means enough)。雖然在美國的商業溝通(businesscommunication)是愉快的和自在的(easygoing),但是它同時(atthe same time)也因為不講情面(ruthlessly adv. 無情地;冷酷地)而成為焦點。
3. Communicating(現在分詞做主語)is anatural talentof Americans. Whennegotiating partnersmeet, the emphasis is onsmall talk and smiling. There isliberal use of a sense of humor thatis more directthanit is in the UK. If yougive a talk in America, you should speakinare laxed way andwith plenty ofjokesto captureyour audiences' attention.
3、溝通是美國人與生俱來的才能(a natural talent)。雙方談判的時候(當談判雙方接觸時,negotiating現在分詞做形容詞,修飾parters),閑聊(smalltalk)和微笑是很重要的(theemphasis)。美國人比英國人更幽默(sense of humor 幽默感,幽默)也更直接。(that引導定語從句,可以譯為:美國人自由地使用幽默感,這種幽默感比英國人更加直接。)如果你和美國人談話,要很放松并且要準備很多(plenty of)笑話來吸引(capture)聽眾的注意力(to capture...不定式作目的狀語)。
4. Informality is the rule. Business partners renounce their academic title son their business cards. Sandwichesand drinks in plastic or boxesareserved during conferences. Your business partnerstend toact casuallyin the office and chat about their family.
4、美國人不拘禮節(informalityn. 非正式;不拘禮節;be the rule 普通情況)。商業伙伴不會在他們的名片上寫他們的畢業院校(renouncevt. 放棄;academic title 學銜)。 會議期間會提供一些用塑料瓶或盒子裝的三明治和飲料。你的生意伙伴很可能會在辦公室隨意地(casually adv.)做一些事情或聊他們的家庭。
5. The attitude "time is money" has moreinfluence on business communication in the USthanit does anywhereelse. After the neutral warm-up, US negotiating partners quicklyget to the point. Even socialget-togethers are often used to discussbusiness matters.
5、“時間就是金錢”這種態度(attitude)在美國的生意場上的影響力比其他任何領域都強。在簡單的寒暄之后(neutral adj. 中立的;warm-up n. 準備運動;預熱),美國談判雙方很快地切入主題(getto the point 言歸正傳),甚至社會上舉辦的聯歡會(get-togethers)都會被利用來討論生意。
6. AlthoughAmericans do business in a very pragmatic way, they want to win.Developinga personal relationship with the business partneris not as important asgettingresults.
6、美國人做生意很注重實效(pragmatic adj.實用主義的;實際的),他們就是想贏。相比之下,發展(developing)與商業伙伴的個人關系(與得到(getting)的談判結果相比)就不是那么重要了(相比較的兩個部分,使用了相同的結構,即同為動名詞詞組)。
7. And US negotiatorstend towant those results fast.Asfinancial results are reportedevery quarter, itis essential tosecure profitabilityon a short-term basis.For this reason, many UScontractscontain theprovision"time isof the essence"withintheirpreamble. Hence, USimpatiencein negotiationsshould not be perceived asimpoliteness, butasthecorollary of "time is money".
7、而且美國談判者(negotiators)想最快地獲得結果。金融情況時刻受到關注(或直譯為“財務業績每季上報”),這對在短期內(on ashort-term basis)保證收益(profitabilityn. 贏利能力)很重要(be essential to 對...必要的)。因此(forthis reason),許多美國契約(contracts)在前言(preamble)里面包含“時間就是生命”這一條款(provisionn. 規定;條款)(of the essence 非常重要的;essence n. 本質;精華)。所以美國人談判很性急(impatiencen.),但這不應該被視為(beperceived as)無禮,而應視為“時間就是金錢”的理念在起作用(corollary n. 必然的結果;推理)。(此句翻譯作了小改動。)
8. Thisattitude has a strong influence on negotiations,sincestrategic alliances and otherlong-term projects are evaluatedin terms oftheir potential to achievea quick return on investment.
8、因為(since)戰略合作(strategic adj. 戰略的;alliancesn. 聯盟)和其他的長期項目都是以其潛在的快速投資回報率來進行評價的,這種態度會對談判有很大的影響。(to achieve aquick return on investemnt 不定式做potential的定語;本句可譯為:“時間就是金錢”的這種態度對談判具有很大的影響,因為,戰備合作和其他的長期項目都是以獲得快速投資回報的潛能來進行評價的。)
9.Because the Asian negotiatingapproachtendstobe long-term in nature, it is one of the mainreasonswhyso many joint ventures and alliancesbetween US and Asian companies have failed tomeet expectations.
9、亞洲人談判的時間歷來很長,這也是為什么美國和亞洲的很多合資企業和聯盟未能達到預期效果的主要原因之一(joint ventures 合資企業,合資公司)。(此句翻譯作了小改動。)
10. When doingbusiness in the US, you should takethe following considerationsinto account.
10、當你在美國經商時,以下的這些事情(thefollowing considerations)是值得考慮一下的(takeinto account 考慮;重視)。
11. Conductingnegotiationson a highly professional leveland makingpresentationswith the help ofstate-of-the-art technologyis appreciated in the US. You should observea negotiated agenda,or evena draft agreement.The negotiation will proceed in a well-prepared,calm, matter-of-fact and pragmatic manner,alllacedwitha substantial dose of humor.
11、引導(conducting)一個高水平的、專業的談判,并借助于(with the help of)藝術手段 (state-of the art technology)將談判內容呈現出來(makingpresentations),這在美國很受歡迎。你應該制定(observe)一個談判議程(agenda),甚至是一個協定草案。談判將會在準備充分(well-preparedadj.)、平和、實事求是的(matter-of-factadj.)和實用的(pragmatic)狀態中進行(proceed vi. 開始;發生;行進),整個過程充滿幽默(lace with 用...裝飾;a substantial does of大量的)。(此段翻譯作了改動。)
12. Present and market your casein apositiveway. You shouldnot betoo modest about yourown company's products, services, and market position.Instead, take a "can-do" attitude.
12、在介紹自己公司情況的時候,要很積極。對自己公司的產品、服務和在市場上的地位都不要說得太謙虛(too modest)。相反(instead)要釆取一種樂觀進取的態度,讓對方覺得你能行。
13. Moreover,do not be misled by your negotiating partners' relaxed style of communication. Subjectssuch asreligion, politics orethnic background should only betouched oncautiously, even inprivate conversation.
13、還有,不要被你的談判合伙人放松的溝通方式所誤導(被動語態)(mislead vt. 誤導,其過去式和過去分詞為misled)。諸如宗教、政治或種族背景(ethnicbackground)等,這些問題一定要慎重(cautiously adv.)提及(touch on),即使是在私人的交談中也應如此。
14. The casualattitude in the US does not meanthere is no hierarchy in US companies.On the contrary,status is expressedin a very subtle way, and it may take some time to gain a detailed understanding ofthe ranking system.
14、這種不拘禮節的態度并不意味著在美國的公司中沒有等級制度(hierarchy n.)。相反(onthe contrary),每個人的身份地位會以一種非常微妙的(subtle)方式表現出來,而要真正理解這種表達方式是需要一定時間的。(the ranking system 等級制度)