楊建娣
摘要: 在國際商務(wù)談判這一語境中正確應(yīng)用語言,將語言表達(dá)和談判語用策略二者有機(jī)結(jié)合,是提高國際商務(wù)談判的成功率的關(guān)鍵。作者將分別闡述國際商務(wù)談判中的委婉、模糊、得體和論辯的語用策略。
關(guān)鍵詞: 國際商務(wù)談判語用策略
國際商務(wù)是跨國界發(fā)生的活動(dòng),不可避免會(huì)受到談判中文化差異的影響,商務(wù)談判的成功與否在很大程度上取決于談判過程中語言運(yùn)用的策略的好壞。一般來講,在國際商務(wù)談判中語用策略的運(yùn)用可分為三種類型:起積極作用的語用策略,起消極作用的語用策略和起均勢(shì)作用的語用策略。筆者僅就在國際商務(wù)談判中起積極作用的語用策略做分析。
一、委婉表達(dá)語用策略
在商務(wù)談判中,由于時(shí)間、場(chǎng)合、氣氛的不同,有些話不宜直接說出來,需要采取委婉、含蓄的表達(dá)方式,因?yàn)槲癖磉_(dá)能有效地緩和緊張的談判氣氛,打破僵局,擺脫窘迫、尷尬的局面和避免矛盾。委婉表達(dá)并不意味著說話者音調(diào)和態(tài)度的軟弱。實(shí)際上,它對(duì)談判雙方都是一種有效的語用手段。
1.善用溫和的言辭。
“溫和”的對(duì)應(yīng)詞是“激烈”,兩者措辭的區(qū)別在于,前者比較婉轉(zhuǎn)、含蓄,而后者比較強(qiáng)烈、刺激。委婉表達(dá)的方法之一,就是在交際中避免過分強(qiáng)調(diào)自我或刺激對(duì)方,而應(yīng)善用溫和言辭。我們可以多用這類詞語,如“Im afraid”,“We would say”,“It seems to me”等,使較強(qiáng)烈的措詞轉(zhuǎn)為溫和的語言。再比如,如果你想拒絕對(duì)方的建議,就可以委婉地說:Im afraid we have conflicting views on the matter.如果我方認(rèn)為對(duì)方的產(chǎn)品質(zhì)量一般,但不好直說,我們就可以委婉地說:We know where you are about the quality of your products.
2.善用被動(dòng)語態(tài)。
由于省略了施動(dòng)者,被動(dòng)語態(tài)的含義常常變得含糊。在商務(wù)談判中,人們時(shí)常使用被動(dòng)語態(tài)來避免直接批評(píng)對(duì)方。如:
例1a. Obviously,you made a very careless mistake here.
b. A very careless mistake was made here.
例2a. For the past three years,you did not place any order from us.
b. For the past three years,no order has been placed from us.
3.善用感情移入法。
在談判中,設(shè)身處地理解對(duì)方,形成心理上的溝通,削弱對(duì)抗心理,從而使談判的氣氛發(fā)生微妙的變化;或使對(duì)方產(chǎn)生好感,漸受感動(dòng);或使對(duì)方心服口服,等等。這是一種以感情移入法的語用策略緩和氣氛,減弱對(duì)立,淡化矛盾的方法。
例:a. We do not believe you will have cause for dissatisfaction.
b. We feel sure that you will be entirely satisfied.
4.善于提供“臺(tái)階”。
所謂提供“臺(tái)階”,實(shí)際上是給人“留面子”,要留面子,就要使用禮貌語言、委婉表達(dá)。留面子的語用目的,是要保持談判雙方的良好關(guān)系,使談判在和平友好的氣氛中進(jìn)行,并順利地實(shí)現(xiàn)談判目的。從語言角度出發(fā),留面子還是丟面子,關(guān)鍵在于談判過程中是否采取和如何采取威脅面子的語言行為。如:
例1:We know where you are about the quality and quantity of your products.
例2:We approve of your plan on the whole,but we respectively represent interest of different companies,dont we?
例1中,講話人心里認(rèn)為對(duì)方的產(chǎn)品質(zhì)量不行,但嘴里沒直說,只是用了“where you are”做暗示。例2中,“on the whole”有不同意見之意,甚至包含拒絕。
二、模糊表達(dá)語用策略
模糊性是指一個(gè)詞或一個(gè)概念所指范圍的中心部分基本上確定,而外延界限不明確的屬性。語言的模糊表達(dá)具有簡潔性、概括性、靈活性等特點(diǎn),它可以用來體現(xiàn)涉外談判的高度周密和靈活性。涉外談判中,通常會(huì)因某種原因不便或不愿把自己的真實(shí)思想暴露給別人,或在某些場(chǎng)合,會(huì)出現(xiàn)一些不能直答但又不能不答,或一時(shí)無法回答但又必須回答的問題,或?yàn)樵囂綄?duì)方的意向,這時(shí)可以通過運(yùn)用模糊的語言,即把輸出的信息模糊化,避免過于確定,讓談判者進(jìn)退自如,避免談判陷入僵局,留下必要的回旋余地。
例:Your request for a 5% reduction in our price has received our attention and Ill put the matter before my manager for consideration. We would give you our reply as soon as possible.
這里,attention,consideration,as soon as possible 都沒有明確的概念。這樣就進(jìn)可攻,退可守,使自己處于主動(dòng)地位。
此外,我們還可以使用一些具有模糊性的詞語if,perhaps,probably,maybe,seem,as if,Im afraid,It is said that,to some extent 等。如:The board of directors seems unable to solve it right now.
三、得體表述語用策略
由于對(duì)外交流與合作大都遵循著“實(shí)力政策”和“利益驅(qū)動(dòng)”的基本機(jī)制運(yùn)行,因此談判雙方所喜歡的是宣講自己的優(yōu)點(diǎn)、優(yōu)勢(shì)和所取得的成就等。話說過了頭往往過激,而且咄咄逼人。為此,談判雙方應(yīng)掌握如何表達(dá)優(yōu)勢(shì)的語用策略。低調(diào)處理是對(duì)說過頭話的糾偏,它遵循了謙遜準(zhǔn)則和禮貌策略。說話者盡量少贊譽(yù)自己,多贊譽(yù)別人。在商務(wù)談判中,談判雙方應(yīng)把握好得體有效的語用策略來表達(dá)自己的優(yōu)勢(shì),以便取得更有成效的結(jié)果。
1.少用感嘆語氣。
在表述己方長處時(shí),說話者不要神情得意,文字激昂,而要特別提高警惕,在語言表達(dá)上,少用感情色彩較濃的感嘆句。如:
a. What an excellent performance of our equipment!
b. According to our end users,the performance of this equipment is excellent.
2.避免華麗辭藻。
在商務(wù)談判中,華麗辭藻難以有可信性。如“最佳”,“一流”,“首屈一指”,“獨(dú)一無二”等這一類夸飾的修飾語,過分地夸大和渲染,往往會(huì)增加對(duì)方的不信任,甚至引起反感。一般來說,用確切的數(shù)據(jù)或典型的事實(shí)能比較形象、準(zhǔn)確地反映“優(yōu)勢(shì)”事物的本質(zhì)。如:
a. This kind of lighter has good performance and can be used for a long time.
b. This kind of lighter can operate continually more than 40,000 times a piece.
3.淡化主觀色彩。
在表述己方優(yōu)勢(shì)時(shí),口口聲聲講“我”、“我們”、“我們的”等,自做鑒定,自我評(píng)論,這種表述是不可取的。為此,宜用語言表達(dá)淡化,或變抽象為具體,或引用他人之語等,以淡化主觀色彩、增強(qiáng)客觀效果。如:
a. Our enterprise has been developing rapidly and well known in China and overseas. Our products are extremely welcomed by the customers.
b. Our factory,economic beneficial results have in fact been tripled in the last three years. Theres a special report about our factory carried in Beijing Review last month. You know,Beijing Review is weekly published in more than 20 languages and distributed to over 180 countries and regions. At present,a number of buyers especially name our factory as their only supplier,and were just worrying how to meet the needs of the customers at home and abroad.
四、論辯表達(dá)語用策略
論辯的關(guān)鍵在于“說”,在于“陳述”。陳述要明確,論據(jù)要充分,論證要有邏輯性,這是專業(yè)性論辯最基本的特征和要求。論辯的語用表達(dá)策略有多種,具體如下。
1.陳述得體,寓理于例。
談判人員充分利用事實(shí)、例子等方法,得體地陳述其主題和要點(diǎn),寓理于例,以理服人。下述例句中,講話人對(duì)有人提出的“翻版”問題,給予得體的、有條有理的陳述,對(duì)對(duì)方的“指責(zé)”給予委婉的、但又有說服力的反駁。
“... if Im not mistaken,I understand what you asked in your question is about the problem of my Frequency Standards Configuration. To answer your question,Im afraid something must be stated here clearly:
Firstly,we have acknowledged... This is clearly indicated in my paper. Please see the Reference No. 3. And in my talk just now,I once again mentioned the reference.
Secondly,...
Thirdly,the proposal made by...
So,I dont quite understand what youre driving at by refurbished version. And I ...”
2.攻心為上,削弱對(duì)抗。
在論辯過程中,談判人員設(shè)身處地理解對(duì)方,形成心理上的溝通,削弱對(duì)抗心理,從而使談判的氣氛發(fā)生變化。如:
I agree to what you said about the engineering schedule. But we are in the dry season now... You will be very much appreciated if you kindly ...
3.以退為進(jìn),有禮有節(jié)。
在商務(wù)談判中,談判人員常用一種己方以較小的退讓來換取或促使對(duì)方較大讓步的策略,即以退為進(jìn),有禮有節(jié)。如:
Well,lets give the matter further thought and discuss it latter. I agree to give up this item. But I hope you can cooperate with us in sponsoring two trainees. All right?
4.利用矛盾,區(qū)別對(duì)待。
所謂利用矛盾,指在論辯中,利用不同對(duì)手或?qū)Ψ饺藛T之間的矛盾或競(jìng)爭,或控制乙,或借甲攻乙,引導(dǎo)諸對(duì)手相互攀比、競(jìng)爭,加強(qiáng)己方在交涉、談判中地位和主動(dòng)性。以下兩個(gè)例子都利用了使對(duì)方與另一方相互競(jìng)爭的心理,使己方處于比較有利的、有主動(dòng)權(quán)的地位。
例1:Frankly speaking,the businessmen from America,Japan as well as from France are trying to contact us. But to us,we are going to compare commodities from different producers,treat them equally without discrimination,and choose among the best.
例2:At present,the products from Philip are attractive to us; but we are also very much interested in those from Matsushita. We hope that you can offer your competitive price.
5.強(qiáng)硬果斷,針鋒相對(duì)。
這是一種以比較強(qiáng)硬、果斷的口吻,進(jìn)行針鋒相對(duì)的論辯策略。從以下例句中,我們可以看出這類言辭表達(dá),態(tài)度比較強(qiáng)硬,帶有刺激性和火藥味,有咄咄逼人之勢(shì)。如果這一策略運(yùn)用得當(dāng),就可以加快處理事情的速度,在不少情況下是能夠奏效的。然而,這種方法,也帶有一定的冒險(xiǎn)性,有時(shí)會(huì)僵化局面。因此,要在確有把握的情況下才采用這種策略,不可草率從事。
例1:Personally,this is our rock-bottom price,Mr. Green. Im afraid,it seems that we cant make any further concession.
例2:As the matter stands now,Im afraid what we can do is only up to here.
五、結(jié)語
在國際商務(wù)談判中應(yīng)盡可能把握好起積極作用的語用策略,以順利達(dá)到談判的目的。國際商務(wù)談判融語言教學(xué)與國際商務(wù)為一體,注重學(xué)生的英語語言綜合素質(zhì)的培養(yǎng)和實(shí)際應(yīng)用英語能力的培養(yǎng),使學(xué)生具有運(yùn)用英語進(jìn)行國際商務(wù)交際的能力。同時(shí),應(yīng)開展有效的教學(xué)活動(dòng),有意識(shí)地把培養(yǎng)學(xué)生語用策略與學(xué)習(xí)新的外語知識(shí)結(jié)合起來,以培養(yǎng)出在實(shí)際工作中能靈活運(yùn)用,適應(yīng)商務(wù)需要的外語人才。
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