商务礼节美语第208期:A Product Recall 产品召回 (上)

　　Rick: The Board of Directors has come to a decision. Our company will take an image hit, and it's going to be very expensive, but it seems we have no other choice but to start a recall. Samantha, would you care to explain a bit more.
Samantha: A year ago we began receiving reports that several of the air conditioner models we manufacture can sometimes overheat. In very rare circumstances this overheating might lead to electrical fires. So far there have been three fires that may be connected to our air conditioning units.
R: Unfortunately, one person was seriously injured. Therefore, even though there is no definitive¹ proof linking our ACs to these fires, we decided² to take action immediately.
Samantha介绍说，公司生产的几款空调发生过overheat - 机身温度过热的现象，可能起火，到目前为止，至少有三起火灾怀疑跟他们公司生产的空调有关，还有一人受重伤。执行总裁Rick说，虽然没有 definitive proof，确凿证据， 但公司董事会还是决定立即采取行动，start a recall. 召回相关型号的空调。recall is spelled r-e-c-a-l-l, recall是召回有问题产品的意思。这样做不仅会有不小的经济损失，而且还要take an image hit. 公司形象也会受到打击。Hank问：
Hank: How many units are we talking about here? And what is this going to cost us?
R: We will be recalling over 15,000 air-conditioners. The company will refit them with new thermal³ sensors⁴ and stronger wiring.
S: As far as costs go, we estimate the company will lose well over $6 million dollars.
H: Six million??! But we're not even sure we're responsible. Is a recall really the best way to go?
R: I believe that from both a business perspective and a moral perspective, a recall is necessary.
S: I think Rick is right. If there's even a chance that our products could cause injuries we have a responsibility to step in.
公司估计要召回一万五千台空调，召回的产品改用更耐热的电线，还要安装thermal sensors热感应器，经济损失将超过六百万美元。公司执行总裁Rick和主管Samantha都觉得，不论是从商业角度还是从道义角度出发，只要公司产品可能跟火灾的发生有一点关联，他们也有义务step in, 站出来。
R: Even if we look at it purely⁵ from a financial standpoint, six million dollars spent fixing any possible errors is definitely cheaper than being defendants⁷ in a lawsuit⁸ where somebody was seriously injured or killed.
H: So what's the procedure?
S: Next Monday we will issue a press release explaining that - even though there are no definitive links between our products and fires - we want to be good corporate⁹ citizens and have therefore decided to err⁶ on the side of caution.
Rick补充说，即使单纯从经济角度出发，花六百万美元修补产品的缺陷也比被人告上法庭的花销小。产品召回的第一步是，下星期一公司先发一份news release新闻简报，说明公司立场，虽然没有确凿证据证明火灾和公司产品有关，但公司还是决定召回产品，to err on the side of caution，是“慎重起见，保险起见”的意思。新闻简报以后还有哪些措施呢？我们下次继续谈。

1 definitive   

adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• No one has come up with a definitive answer as to why this should be so.至于为什么该这样，还没有人给出明确的答复。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 thermal   

adj.热的，由热造成的；保暖的

参考例句：

• They will build another thermal power station.他们要另外建一座热能发电站。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

4 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

5 purely   

adv.纯粹地，完全地

参考例句：

• I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
• This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。

6 err   

vi.犯错误，出差错

参考例句：

• He did not err by a hair's breadth in his calculation.他的计算结果一丝不差。
• The arrows err not from their aim.箭无虚发。

7 defendants   

被告( defendant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The courts heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. 法官审判时发现6位被告人曾被迫承认罪行。
• As in courts, the defendants are represented by legal counsel. 与法院相同，被告有辩护律师作为代表。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

8 lawsuit   

n.诉讼，控诉

参考例句：

• They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
• He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

9 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。