Sandoz眼前最大的问题是中南美洲当地不良的卫生状况。从法律观点来看,只要在包装上印妥‘切勿使用脏水’的警告标示,即毋须对后果负责。但基于职业道德与社会良心,Sandoz仍希望善尽人事。本单元中,这组人即针对如何确保当地人会以净水冲泡奶粉进行讨论。
英文正文
Vincent: As a good corporate citizen, we must face the following issues. One is to make the powder so that you can't mix it with dirty water. Two is that we find a way to give clean water to everyone who uses the powder.
Sam: Can we do both and still not make the price too high? We want to market it to the people who need it the most - the poor. And most of those people in those places are very, very poor.
Vincent: A valid point. Well then, let's toss the first problem around a little. We can't make the powder so that you can't mix it with dirty water. The price will be too high, and people could get sick if they still try to drink it. But I think we can add something that would make the color change.
Grace: Good idea. Like black or something. Nobody would let their kids drink something that didn't look like milk.
Sam: I'm sorry, but I have to disagree. These people wash, drink, and even swim every day in the water that LOOKS dirty. But they do it anyway, because they're so poor there's no way they can get clean water.
Vincent: That's true. Maybe we could add something that would make it smell bad too. If it smells bad and looks bad, that might make sure they don't drink it. But I don't know how much more it will add to the cost.
Grace: If it jacks up the cost too much nobody will buy it. That won't help anyone -- them or us. But we can't just sell it without a way to stop buyers from using dirty water.
句型总结
● 提出归纳
1. We must face the following issues. One is... Two is...
2. I've come to the conclusion that the first issue is...; the second is...
3. I've reached the conclusion that the first issue is...; the second is...
4. There are (two) main issues here; the first issue is...; the second is...
这句型的功用在于提出关键性的归纳,并随后逐项加以解释。这句话由于以"we"为主词,没使用"I think"、"from my point of view"等牵涉个人的用语开头,所以大幅降低主观意识,会让在座者较易接受说话者的意见。
● 赞同看法
1. A valid point.
2. I agree completely.
3. I agree one hundred percent.
4. I agree wholeheartedly.
"valid"是‘确实的;有价值的’;"point"为‘重点;观点’。这用语是说对方提出的这一点很有参考价值,值得重视。等于"It's a valid point.",将"It's"省略后,语气更形简洁有力。这句话表示自己完全同意对方的看法,并百分之百地支持;常能发挥鼓励他人发言的作用,可用于正式或非正式的场合。
● 表达反对
1. I'm sorry, but I have to disagree.
2. I'm sorry, but I can't agree with that.
3. I'm sorry, but I can't support that position / idea.
4. I'm sorry, but I can't go along with that.
"disagree"的意思是‘不同意;反对’。这句话可用于半正式与正式场合中。请注意这句话所不同意的是‘意见’而非‘个人’,纯粹对事不对人,所以可以很技巧地避免让对方下不了台。用"I'm sorry"开头,尤显客气有礼。
● More 同意与反对
在会议桌上,面对不同考量的方案与意见时,我们常需表达正面或反面的看法。以下提出两种不同程度表达同意及反对的说法,请比较参考:
同意的说法:强烈表达
I'm in complete agreement.
I quite agree.
I couldn't agree more.
Exactly!
Precisely.
同意的说法:和缓表达
I agree.
You're right there.
I think you're right.
That's true.
That's right.
反对的说法:强烈表达
I disagree completely.
That's out of the question.
On the contrary.
Of course not!
That's ridiculous.
反对的说法:和缓表达
I don't agree.
That's not how I see it.
I wouldn't say that.
I don't think it will work.
I disagree.