“Everything is negotiable. Whether or not the negotiation is easy is another thing.” — Carrie Fisher
飾演《星際大戰》中莉亞公主的女星Carrie Fisher曾說：「任何事情都是可談的。」 確實，日常生活中處處可見negotiation（談判）的蹤跡，尤其在職場上，當你有機會代表公司到國外出差洽談合約，若是先準備好能應用在協商時的英文，就不會因語塞而被反將一軍！而且，這些單字、片語都是多益常考的內容，何不一魚兩吃，一次滿足多重願望呢？
Negotiation的過程中牽涉許多溝通和對談，businessdictionary.com對談判的定義如下：
Photo courtesy of CC Licensed 圖片: CC Licensed
Bargaining (give and take) process between two or more parties (each with its own aims, needs, and viewpoints) seeking to discover a common ground and reach an agreement to settle a matter of mutual concern or resolve a conflict.
談判是雙方或兩方以上人馬，有各自的目標、需求和觀點，透過協商過程尋找一個彼此都同意的共識，並達成協議以解決歧見。
bargain 協議
當名詞時做「便宜貨、價格好的東西」解釋；當動詞是「議價、協議」的意思。片語bargain for意思為「期待、預期」。
The dresser I got from the garage sale was a real bargain.
（我在車庫拍賣裡買到的五斗櫃真的很便宜。）
Let’s close the deal. I think we got more than we bargained for.
（我想我們差不多可以完成交易了，畢竟我們得到比預期的多。）
此外，drive a hard bargain表示在協議的過程中不願意妥協或讓步。bargaining chip則是用來指「談判的籌碼」。
We’d better discuss our strategies for the meeting tomorrow. Our client has a reputation for driving hard bargains.
（我們最好討論一下明天會議裡要使用的策略，我們客戶是出了名的不妥協或讓步。）
give and take 協議、互相妥協
字面上的意思「給和拿」，也就說明了協商過程裡雙方都有相當程度的角力和讓步。 讓步在英文上也可以用 compromise (v, n)或是片語 meet someone halfway.
Negotiation actually involves a lot of give and take.
（協商原本就涉及雙方互相讓步妥協。）
To reach an agreement, we decided to meet each other halfway.
（為了達成共識，我們決定各讓一步。）
resolve 解決
resolve a conflict 即是「解決衝突」，也可用在resolve disputes／differences（解決紛爭）。
We tried to find ways to resolve our differences so we can complete the project by the deadline.
（為了能夠在截止日期前完成這個案子，我們試著找出方式來解決彼此之間的分歧。）
請注意，雖然中文翻譯都是「解決」，但是resolve在這裡不完全等於solve。我們可以說solve a crime／mystery／math problem，但是無法用resolve a crime／mystery／math problem。
接下來，我們看看談判桌上常用的句型或英文說法。
1. viable
I’m afraid that it is not a viable option.（恐怕這不是個可行的方案／選擇。）
viable (adj)「可行的」，類似的字尚有feasible、workable。
The plan Jim proposed is not viable at all. （Jim提議的計畫一點都不可行。）
2. alternative
既然是協商，通常不容易拿到我們理想的目標，一定會有某種程度的妥協、替代方案或另一個選擇。此時，可以這樣說：
What if we offer you an alternative?（
如果我們提供另一個替代方案呢？）
alternative (adj/n)「另一個、另一種」，可用在alternative energy source（替代能源）、alternative medicine（替代藥物）。
We seem to be nearing an agreement.
（我們似乎即將達成協定。）
3. seem
seem (v)這個狀態的動詞的用較特殊，無法用進行式，而是要：
(1) 用不定詞接另一個動詞
He doesn’t seem to remember the promise he made during our negotiation last week.（我似乎記得上星期談判時他所做出的承諾。）
(2) 接that引導的名詞子句
It seems that we can’t finish the project on time.（我們似乎無法準時完成那個計畫。）
(3) 接形容詞
Are you OK? You seem quite anxious.
（你還好嗎？你似乎很焦慮。）
4. accept、refuse
另外，在談判時我們可能accept（接受）或refuse（拒絕）對方的意見：
We can only accept your offer on one condition.（我們只有在一個條件下才能接受你的提議。）
Are you willing to accept a compromise?（你是否願意接受妥協？）
5. deadlock、impasse
談判的結果可能是達成共識，或以僵局、破局收場。如果是僵局，則可用deadlock或impasse表達。
The peace talk came to a deadlock and the delegates from both countries decided to resume the negotiation next month.
（這次的和平談判陷入僵局，雙方代表決定下個月重啟談判。）
We hit an impasse over payment terms.
（我們在談付款方式和時卡住了。）
【多益模擬試題】
1. The trade talk has come to a deadlock since neither side could come up with a viable ___________.
(A) altercation (B) alternation (C) alternative (D) alteration
2. The contract will only be accepted if further concessions by the oil company ________.
(A) makes (B) is to make (C) is making (D) is made
【解析】
1. 正確答案(C)替代方案。本題為字義題，要選適合題意的字，然而選項全是名詞，所以無法由詞性判斷，而且所有選項的拼字又相似，是易混淆的字。選項(A) altercation解釋為fight、augment「爭執；吵架」。(B) alternation輪流替換、更替，動詞是alternate；(D) alteration變更、改變，動詞為alter。因此符合本題題意是(C)。
2. 正確答案(D)。本題為文法題，「讓步」可以用make a concession來表達。這裡因為if子句的主詞為concession，所以以被動型態來表現，因此(D) is made為正解。
SOURCE: https://www.englishok.com.tw/toeic/toeic-issue/negotiation-bargain-resolve-english
文章由TOEIC Program Taiwan · Chun Shin提供：
www.facebook.com/ToeicProgramTaiwan
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