Transcript Telephone language

I was born in Edinburgh in
1974. When my mum was
pregnant with me, she was
convinced that I was going
to be a boy because I
kicked so much...!
I have a degree in Music
and Italian Studies and a
PhD in linguistics. My
research interest in
metaphor combines
psychology, learning,
language, and nonlinguistic communication
I have lived in Edinburgh,
Birmingham, Florence, Bologna
and Pescara. But my favourite
place is where I spent my
holidays as a child: Galloway, in
the south-west of Scotland
I have been a musician all my
life, and can play piano, violin,
cello and some baroque
instruments. I sing in the Coro
della Virgola and still do some
solo concerts when I can find the
time...
Edinburgh
Galloway
Leaving a message
 Phone

calls are conversations
A phone call is actually three conversations:



Hello
What I’m calling about
Goodbye

When we make a phone call, we expect some
things to happen

We expect the phone to ring 2-3 times before being
answered


We expect to say some meaningless things before we
say what we really want to say


Hello? - Hello, how are you? - Fine thanks how are you? Oh fine, you know.
We expect to have a conversation


Dring dring... dring dring...dring dring... HELLO?
i.e. Exchange information with a person
We expect to say some meaningless things before we
hang up

Oh well, nice speaking to you – Yeah, you too – speak
soon bye – Bye then, bye – Bye bye – Bye.
Sometimes we can’t speak to the person we’re
phoning
 In order to cope with this situation, we need to
learn how to leave a message



This is also very formulaic, but different to a phonecall formula, because there is no conversation.
There are still 3 phases, but the first and last are
extended:
1.
2.
3.
Say hello, and introduce yourself

Hi, it’s ___ here.
Say what you need to say

I need to talk to you about...
Say goodbye and when you’ll be in contact again

Well, I’ll try to call you back later. Bye.
 Leaving
a message is always a disconcerting
experience, but it is easier with voicemail
than with a real-life secretary because...
1.
2.
3.
You speak directly to the person you were
wanting to speak to
You don’t have to interact with a person you
don’t know (= understand their accent)
You don’t need to paraphrase what you were
wanting to say

Typical phrases in a voicemail message

Office


Impersonal


Please leave a message after the tone.
Private


You have reached Wellington International. All our
operators are busy at the moment. Please leave
your name and number and we will call you back.
Hello, I’m not able to take your call at the
moment. Please leave a message and I’ll call you
back / I’ll get back to you.
Personal

??? (anything is possible)
 You
don’t always realise immediately that
you’re not speaking to the person you want
to speak to...

Hello?
 So


Is that ___?
Am I speaking to ____?
 Or



you might start by saying
you could always start by saying
Could I speak to ____, please?
Can I speak to ____?
Is ____ there?
A Hello?
B Hello. Can I speak to Mr Mills, please?
A I’m sorry, I’m afraid he’s busy.
(oh dear – what now??? This is where it gets
stressful!)

The secretary asks who you are


1.
Then offers to forward your call



2.
Who’s calling?
Can I take your name, please?
I’ll put you through.
Just a moment.
Hold the line.
Or offers to take a message


Can I take a message?
Would you like to leave a message?
 Leaving



Hi/ Hello, it’s ____ here. (=informal)
This is ____ speaking. (=neutral)
This is a message for ____ from ____ (=formal)
 Leaving



a message on voicemail
a message with a real person
I’m ____ (=informal)
This is ____ speaking. (=neutral)
My name is ____ (=formal)
 Leaving
speech)



a message on voicemail (=direct
Calling a friend for a chat
 I just called for a chat. It’s nothing important.
Calling somebody you know for information
 I’m calling to ask / say / let you know...
Calling somebody you don’t know for information
 I’m calling about _____.
 Leaving
a message with a real person
(=indirect speech)


Calling somebody you know for information
 I’m calling to ask / say / let you know...
Calling somebody you don’t know for information
 I’m calling about _____.

Leaving a message on voicemail (=direct speech)




Calling a friend for a chat
 I’ll try and call/phone you later
Calling somebody you know for information
 I’ll call/phone back later if I don’t hear from you first
Calling somebody you don’t know
 My number is ____ / I can be reached on _______.
Leaving a message with a real person (=indirect
speech)


Calling somebody you know for information
 Tell him/her I’ll call/phone back later if I don’t hear
from him/ her first
Calling somebody you don’t know
 My number is ____ / I can be reached on _______.
 Leaving a message on
 Calling a friend for a chat


Speak soon. Take care. Bye then. Bye.
Calling somebody you know for information


voicemail
That’s all. Thanks. Goodbye.
Calling somebody you don’t know

Thank you. Goodbye.
 Leaving

a message with a real person
That’s all. Thanks. Goodbye.
 Choose
a)
b)
c)
the most appropriate response
Can I speak to Tony?
My name is Bond, James Bond.
Oh, right. Can I leave a message?
 Choose
the most appropriate message to
leave on the voicemail
a)
b)
c)
Alrigh’, nigga! How’s tings? Hey man, I need
some blow, You got some, huh?
Hello, I’m calling about the advert you placed
in the paper for pharmaceutical products
Listen, things really aren’t working out
between us. We need to talk. Call me, OK?
 Which
phrase is an appropriate way to end
this call?
a)
b)
c)
Can I leave a message?
I’d like to speak to him as soon as possible.
After five thirty, then. Thanks.