The language used for speaking on the telephone is basically very similar to that of ordinary conversation, but limited in certain important respects by the special situation, which imposes a number of restrictions. Attention may be called to some of the chief differences between formal and informal telephone conversations. The most notable difference is that a formal telephone conversation is conducted at a much more formal level because the people speaking are taking care to maintain the high level of politeness usually felt appropriate in this kind of discussion. Another difference is that the formal discussion is very precise and factual, keeping to the point and never straying off into the chatty vagueness which is found at times in informal telephone conversations. Finally, there is of course a considerable difference in the vocabulary, with more technical terms than one would expect to find in the average informal telephone conversation, and a mixture of formal and informal words and phrases. Informal chatty telephone calls usually take place between friends who have nothing in particular to discuss and are simply engaging in a bit of social pleasantness. In this kind of telephone conversation there is a great deal of informal idiom.

 

A. FORMAL TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS

1. Business and Commerce

Operator: Good morning. Hawles Engineering. Can I help you?

Mr Weston: I’d like to speak to Mr James Marsh, please, I think it’s extension forty-seven.

Operator: Who’s calling, please?

Mr Weston: My name is Weston. I’m from Plant Installations Limited.

Operator: Will you hold the line for a moment, Mr Weston? I’ll see if Mr Marsh is free.

Mr Weston: Yes, thank you.

Mr Marsh: Hello. Marsh speaking.

Operator: Oh, hello, Mr Marsh. I’ve got a Mr Weston from Plant Installations on the line. Can you speak to him now?

Mr Marsh: Oh yes. Thank you. Put him through, please.

Operator: You’re through now, Mr Weston.

Mr Marsh: Hello, Mr Weston. What can I do for you?

Mr Weston: Good morning, Mr Marsh. You’ll remember that our surveyor took another look at the floor of your main polishing shop last week.

Mr Marsh: Yes.

Mr Weston: Well I’ve just got his report, and’I thought I’d let you know the result.

Mr Marsh: Splendid. That was quick work.

Mr Weston: Yes, it was quite quick, wasn’t it? And you’ll be pleased to know that he’s been able to confirm what he said in his original report. Mr Marsh: Has he? Oh, good.

Mr Weston: Yes, he says that the subsidence hasn’t gone any further since he first inspected the floor, and that there’s no need to increase the strengthening measures he recommended.

Mr Marsh: Well I’m very pleased to hear that, Mr Weston. You’ve taken a load off my mind.

Mr Weston: Yes, I’m glad it won’t be necessary to hold things up on account of the floor. I’ll confirm all this in writing of course, but I thought that I’d let you know as soon as possible in the hope that we could agree on a defenite starting date.

Mr Marsh: Yes, of course.

Mr Weston: If we can fix that, then I can go ahead with arrangements here.

Mr Marsh: Well it’ll take us about two days to finish off the outstanding work in the plating and polishing shops, and then you can have a free hand to begin your operations. How does that suit you?

Mr Weston: Two days. That brings us to Thursday morning, doesn’t it?

Mr Marsh: Thursday, yes.

Mr Weston: And I did understand you to say we could continue working at week-ends.

Mr Marsh: Yes, that’s right.

Mr Weston: Well in that case Thursday morning will suit us very well. I’ll put it in hand straight away.

Mr Marsh: Good.

Mr Weston: Now there is one other matter that I’d like to discuss breifly with you if you can spare the time. I’m not keeping you from anything, am I?

Mr Marsh: No, I do have a meeting in about half an hour, but I’m at your disposal until then, so please carry on, Mr Weston.

Mr Weston: Well, this is a point which concerns the outlet duct for the main ventilator.

Mr Marsh: Ah, yes. You asked to be sent the final plans, didn’t you? Did you get those?

Mr Weston: Yes, thanks. Your secretary sent them on to me. Now I see from the plans that you intend the duct to be placed alongside an existing chimney. Do you recall that?

Mr Marsh: Mm. That’s right.

Mr Weston: Well, what I’d like to know is whether the chimney’s strong enough to support the duct, or whether we shall have to construct independent supports. Now unfortunately, at the time of our survey, we didn’t think to inspect the chimney.

Mr Marsh: No, of course, because at that stage we still hadn’t decided exactly where the duct was to go.

Mr Weston: Quite. So can you give me any idea of the strength of the chimney? You see, if we can use it as a support and bolt the duct brackets directly to it, this’ll mean a simpler job and it should also save a certain amount of time.

Mr Marsh: And it’ll be cheaper, too.

Mr Weston: Yes, quite a bit cheaper, in fact.

Mr Marsh: Mm. Well, all I can tell you at the moment is that the chimney was only built a couple of years ago, and is in good structural condition. What I can’t tell you, with any degree of certainty, is whether it’ll stand up to the kind of stress you’re proposing to put on it. As far as I can remember it’s a pretty strong job, so it should be all right.

Mr Weston: Yes. Well, it looks quite strong on our plans, but I can’t really tell, because they’re not sufficiently detailed.

Mr Marsh: No. Well, look, Mr Weston, I think we’d better not take any risks over this. I’ll call in a building expert and get him to examine the chimney, and perhaps you’ll be good enough to send me brief details of the loadings involved and the kind of brackets you’re thinking of using and so on. And I’ll put them in front of him and see what he thinks.

Mr Weston: Yes, I can get that in the post this evening.

Mr Marsh: You can? Fine.

Mr Weston: Well, that answers my question, Mr Marsh. Thank you very much.

Mr Marsh: Not at all. And thank you for letting me know about the report so quickly. I’ll get things moving here, and we’ll expect your men to start work on Thursday morning.

Mr Weston: Yes, they’ll be there. Good-bye, Mr Marsh, I’ll be in touch again when the work’s started.

Mr Marsh: Bye, Mr Weston.

2. Casual Business

Mr Hopkinson: Hello. Mr Hopkinson speaking.

Mr Stock: Hello, Tom. Stock here.

Mr Hopkinson: You are just the man I wanted to speak to.

Mr Stock: Well, here I am. What’s it all about, then?

Mr Hopkinson: Well, you know that emergency delivery to Stockholm we were talking about the other day?

Mr Stock: Yes — you mean the “one they wanted delivered by the 25th? Mr Hopkinson: Yes, that’s the one. They’ve been on the telex about it to us only this morning, and now they say they must have it by the beginning of next week. I don’t know. What with that and this big French order we’ve got coming up, I’ve been up to my ears in it.

Mr Stock: I see. Then we’d better get it off pretty soon, hadn’t we?

Mr Hopkinson: Yes, they’re counting on us.

Mr Stock: That’s right. I know old Gustavsson pretty well, actually, and I shouldn’t like to let him down either.

Mr Hopkinson: We’ll have to think of something, then, shan’t we? What’s old Gustavsson like, by the way?

Mr Stock: Bit difficult to describe, actually. Round fortyish and a little bit heavy-going perhaps. Got his head screwed on the right way, though.

Mr Hopkinson: That was my impression too, actually.

Mr Stock: Anyway, to get back to this delivery job, is there anything in particular that’s holding us up? Haven’t we got all the things we want on hand?

Mr Hopkinson: No, it isn’t that so much. We’re a bit short-handed on the packing side, you see. They’ve all been working like the clappers on this French job, and haven’t got round to this other lot yet.

Mr Stock: Let’s see. It’s Friday tomorrow, isn’t it? That makes it a bit tricky.

Mr Hopkinson: Look, I’ve been thinking. What about offering the boys in despatch a spot of overtime over the week-end? We can bung the whole lot into one lorry and get it straight off to Hull. Should be on the quayside by Monday morning.

Mr Stock: Yes, of course that’s the answer. Should’ve thought of that before. Well, that’s that one solved then. Better be getting back, I suppose. Will you tell Fred, or shall I?

Mr Hopkinson: Well, I’m seeing him this afternoon in any case so I’ll see to it, if you like, Peter.

Mr Stock: Would you? That’s splendid. Look, I must push off now. I’m seeing that chap from Benson’s at two-thirty.

Mr Hopkinson: Yes, don’t you worry. I’ll see that’s all laid on…. Bye.

Mr Stock: Bye.

EXERCISES

I. Define the meaning of these words and phrases. Make up sentences using them.

surveyor, quick work, subsidence, to hold things up, on account of smth., in writing, to go ahead with arrangements, the outstanding work, to have a free hand, to put it in hand, to be at one’s disposal, to carry on, with any degree of certainty, to stand up to the stress, to get smth. in the post, to get things moving, emergency delivery, to be on the telex, what with that and this, to be up to one’s ears in work, to get smth. off, to count on smb., to let smb. down, round fortyish, heavy-going, to get one’s head screwed on the right way, to hold smb. up, to get things on hand, to be a bit short-handed on smth., to work like the clappers, to make it tricky, to bung the whole lot into one lorry, to push off, all laid on

II. Rephrase these sentences.

1. You’ve taken a load off my mind. 2. That brings us to Thursday morning. 3. I’ll put it in hand straight away. 4. I’m not keeping you from anything? 5. I’ll call in a building expert and get him to examine the chimney. 6. I can get that in the post this evening. 7. I’ll get things moving here. 8. You mean the one they wanted delivered by the 25th. 9. They’ve been on the telex about it to us this morning. 10. What with that and this big French order we’ve got coming up, I’ve been up to my ears in it. 11. Then we’d better get it off pretty soon. 12. Haven’t we got all the things we want on hand? 13. We’re a bit short-handed on the packing-side. 14. What about offering the boys in despatch a spot of overtime over the week-end?

III. Reproduce the telephone conversations as close to the text as possible.

IV. Make up telephone conversations considering these assignments.

1. Brown amp; Co. for some reason or other have not delivered the goods in the stipulated time. Phone the Company and let them know that they are responsible for the delay and have either to make emergency delivery within a week or to pay you a penalty.

2. You are decorating your apartment. The work is progressing very slowly. Phone the manager of the Company and ask him to offer his workmen a spot of overtime over the week-end so that they could finish off all the outstanding work within two days.

3. You’ve been up to your ears in work over the past two weeks and failed to send a book on Soviet art to your colleague. Phone him, offer your apologies and say that you do remember your promise and that you will get the book in the post this afternoon.

 

В. INFORMAL TELEPHONE COVERSATIONS

1. An Advertisement

Charles: Two-six-two four-three-double four. Charles Farmer speaking.

Joan: Hello, Charles, it’s Joan — Joan Cook.

Charles: Hello, Joan, how are you?

Joan: I’m very well, thanks. How are you?

Charles: Oh, not so bad, you know.

Joan: Good. I rang to ask if you know anything about hotels in Brighton.

Charles: No, I’m afraid I can’t be very much help to you there.

Joan: Well, it’s just that we’ve been thinking of taking the family to the south this summer and at this rather late stage we’re trying to organizeourselves a suitable hotel. But I thought that you’d been to Brighton;

Charles: I have. Several times. But I’ve always taken a tent and done it the hard way.

Joan: Oh, I see. I didn’t realize that.

Charles: Yes. Great one for the open air, you know.

Joan: Oh, it must be nice, but we could never contemplate it with our lot. We’re terribly disorganized as a family, you know, and we’d be in chaos in no time. And in any case the car isn’t big enough to get all of us in and camping equipment as well, so we simply must find ourselves a nice hotel where they’ll put up with noisy kids.

Charles: Mm. You have got a problem. And it’s certainly a bit late. But there are masses of adverts. Have you looked at those?

Joan: Well, yes. As a matter of fact I was reading one advert only this morning in the Sunday paper which sounded marvellous.

Charles: For a hotel?

Joan: Yes. Just outside Brighton. And I thought to myself “I’ll give Charles a ring. He may know it”.

Charles: Oh, dear I am a dead loss, aren’t I. But tell me about the advert.

Joan: It said that this hotel was right on the beach, and that’s essential as far as we’re concerned, because the kids are really only interested in scrabbling in the sand and popping into the sea every five minutes, so we must be close to it-the closer the better.

Charles: I know just how it is.

Joan: And all the rooms have balconies facing the sea and overlooking the beach so it should be possible for mum and dad to keep half an eye on the kids while they’re playing and manage a quiet snooze at the same time occasionally.

Charles: Sounds too good to be true. Expensive?

Joan: Rather. But still the prices were a bit lower than in any of the other adverts I’ve seen, and yet the facilities were as good or even better. You know, even allowing for a bit of exaggeration in the advert, it seemed to have a lot to offer.

Charles: Had it?

Joan: Oh, yes. And the food is good — according to the advert, again — but they’re bound to say that.

Charles: Of course. The only way to find out for certain is to go and try it. And that’s taking rather a risk. I tell you what, though. It’s just occurred to me — Mr and Mrs Croft from over the road have been to that part of England several times, and I seem to remember them saying they always use the same hotel.

Joan: Do they?

Charles: Yes. At least I think that’s what they said. I’ll pop around later this evening, and if they do know anything that might be of use to you I’ll get one or the other of them to give you a ring.

Joan: Would you? That’s very kind of you. They won’t mind, will they?

Charles: No, of course not. I’m sure they’ll be pleased to help.

Joan: Well, that’s marvellous.

Charles: Did you say something about taking the car?

Joan: Yes. It takes a little longer. But there is no need to rush, because Doug’s got an extra week’s holiday this year.

Charles: Lucky Doug. But isn’t it rather a long drive from Edinburgh — what with the children and the holiday traffic?

Joan: Well, strange as it may seem, the kids are very good in the car. And if you go by train or air you don’t see much on the way, you’re sort of insulated from all the lovely places you’re passing.

Charles: Yes, I agree with you.

Joan: But I’m sure you must have better things to do than listen to me rattling on.

Charles: Oh, that’s all right. It’s nice to hear from you. But I will drop in on the Crofts and ask them to phone you. Don’t expect to hear anything until after nine, though, because they’re usually out on Sunday until some time in the evening.

Joan: Well, I shall be around whatever time they ring. Busy getting things ready for school tomorrow. And thanks again, Charles. It really is very kind of you to go to all this trouble.

Charles: No trouble at all. Only too glad to help if I can.

Joan: Well, thanks anyway. Bye-bye, Charles.

Charles: Bye for now, Joan.

2. A Letter of Application

Joe: Peatley two-seven-one.

Bob: Hello, is that you, Joe?

Joe: Yes.

Bob: Bob here. How’s things?

Joe: Oh, hello, Bob. Fine. How are you?

Bob: О. K. Listen, I’ve decided to apply for that job I was telling you about. You remember?

Joe: Yes. I remember. Croydon, wasn’t it? What was it, a car factory?

Bob: No, light engineering. Rather like that place I was at in Leeds.

Joe: Oh yes, of course. Light engineering. I remember now. And it was for a manager, wasn’t it.

Bob: Yes. Personnel Manager.

Joe: Very nice too. Do you feel optimistic about it?

Bob: Well, I wouldn’t say I exactly feel optimistic, but at least my training and experience have put me in with a chance. So perhaps I could say I feel reasonably optimistic about getting short-listed. But the interview — that’s different.

Joe: Why, for goodness sake? You’re not scared of interviews, are you?

Bob: No, I’m not scared of them, but I don’t feel at my best in interviews. Not when I’m on the receiving end, that is. I suppose I spend so much of my time interviewing other people that I feel off balance when I’m in the hot seat myself.

Joe: Oh, I shoudn’t worry too much about it if I were you. As you say, the job is absolutely made for you. I shoudn’t think they’ll get many applicants with your qualifications.

Bob: Well, we’ll see.

Joe: Yes. You’re bound to get an interview. What’s the pay like incidentally?

Bob: Oh, the pay’s good. Nearly twice what I’m getting now. Joe: Mm!

Bob: But then it is in London, and the rates tend to be a lot higher there, anyway.

Joe: Yes, but even so, it’ll make a big difference if you get it. You’ll be loaded!

Bob: Well, I don’t know about loaded. I should need a damned sight more than twice my present wages to be loaded.

outcome of something.

Joe: Was the money the main reason for applying?

Bob: One of the reasons. Probably, not the main reason.

Joe: What was that then?

Bob: Well, I don’t know, it’s just that I… well, I like working at Yorkshire Engineering, but I’d like more scope for putting a few ideas into practice. You know, old Billings is all right, he’s very understanding and pleasant to work for and all that.

Joe: Yes.

Bob: And he’d never do anyone a bad turn, but…

Joe: He’s a stick-in-the-mud.

Bob: Well no, not exactly, but he’s very slow to respond to new ideas. He will accept changes, but it takes him so long to come round to a new idea that by the time he’s trying it out it’s not new any longer.

Joe: And that doesn’t suit you.

Bob: Well it doesn’t really bother me, but, I mean, you’ve got to move with the times these days or you’re soon left behind.

Joe: Too true.

Bob: So, anyway, I thought I’d have a bash.

Joe: Good for you. I hope you fed them all that guff about your qualifications and experience in your application.

Bob: Oh yes, of course.

Joe: But you didn’t lay it on too thick, did you? They can go off if you make yourself sound too good, you know.

Bob: Well, I don’t think I did. I just tried to be factual and emphasise the most important points.

Joe: I bet you’ll cake walk it. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you, at any rate.

Bob: Thanks, I’ll need it.

Joe: But what about the prospect of going South? Does that bother you at all?

Bob: Well, I know it’s got its disadvantages. Housing’s very expensive and travelling in the rush hour can be a bit of a bind. But no doubt it’s got its compensations, too, and if you want to get on you’ve got to be prepared to move around, haven’t you?

Joe: Well, that’s true. But you’ve always lived in Yorkshire and you’ll find things very different in London. No more Sunday mornings on the moors.

Bob: Hey, steady on! I haven’t got the job yet.

Joe: No, but if you do get it you won’t be able to pop out of the back door and run up a mountain.

Bob: True. That is something that I’d miss. That’s one thing about these parts — you’re never very far from some real country. Still, I suppose I could get used to country lanes in the Home Counties if I had to.

Joe: Ugh! You don’t call that walking, do you?

Bob: Well, no, not really, but you can’t have everything, so I’d have to amuse myself in other ways. They do have a few more theatres and museums than we do, you know.

Joe: You’ll get fat, middle-aged and civilised. What a fate.

Bob: I’ll have to ring off now. I’ve got one or two things to do before I turn in.

Joe: О. K. But don’t forget to let me know if you get an interview.

Bob: I will. Cheerio.

Joe: Cheerio, Bob. Thanks for ringing.

EXERCISES

I. Define the meaning of these words and phrases. Make up sentences using them.

to organise oneself a suitable hotel, to do smth. the hard way, to be a great one for smth., with one’s lot, to put up smb., to put up with smb. (smth.), masses of adverts, to be a dead loss, to scrabble in the sand, to pop into the sea, to overlook the beach, to keep half an eye on smb., to manage a quiet snooze, facilities, to allow for a bit of exaggeration, over the road, to pop around, what with the children and the holiday traffic, to rattle on, to apply for a job, light engineering, to put smb. in with a chance, to get shortlisted, to feel at one’s best, to feel off balance, to be in the hot seat, an applicant, the pay, to be loaded, to have more scope for smth., a stick-in-the-mud, to move with the times, to be left behind, to have a bash, to go off smth., to keep one’s fingers crossed for smb., a bit of a bind, to amuse oneself, to turn in

II. Rephrase these sentences.

1. I can’t be very much help to you. 2. I’ve always taken a tent and done it the hard way. 3. Great one for the open air. 4. They will put up with noisy kids. 5. I’m a dead loss. 6. Sounds too good to be true. 7. You know, even allowing for a bit of exaggeration in the advert, it seemed to have a lot to offer. 8. They are bound to say that. 9. Strange as it may seem, the kids are very good in the car. 10. If you go by train you are sort of insulated from all the lovely places you are passing. 11. It really is very kind of you to go to all this trouble. 12. I’ve decided to apply for that job. 13. My training and experience have put me in with a chance. 14. I feel reasonably optimistic about getting short-listed. 15. I don’t feel at my best in interviews. 16. I feel off balance when I’m in the hot seat myself. 17. I shoudn’t think they’ll get many applicants with your qualifications. 18. “What’s the pay like incidentally?” “Nearly twice what I’m getting now”. 19. The rates tend to be a lot higher there, anyway. 20. You’ll be loaded! 21. I should need a damned sight more than twice my present wages to be loaded. 22. He’d never do anyone a bad turn. 23. He’s a stick-in-the-mud. 24. He’s very slow to respond to new ideas. 25. I hope you fed them all that guff about your qualifications and experience in your application. 26. I thought I’d have a bash. 27. But you didn’t lay it on too thick. 28. They can go off you. 29. I bet you’ll cake walk it. 30. Travelling in the rush hour can be a bit of a bind. 31. I’ll have to ring off now.

III. Fill in the missing remarks in these snatches of telephone conversation (see Conversations 1 and 2).

1. C: Two-six-two four-three-double four. Charles Farmer speaking.

J.: …

2. C.: Hello, Joan, how are you?

J.: …

C.: Oh, not so bad, you know.

3. C.: But I’ve always taken a tent and done it the hard way.

J.: …

4. J.: …

C.: Oh dear, I am a dead loss, aren’t I. But tell me about the advert.

J.: …

5. С:. Sounds too good to be true. Expensive?

J.: …

6. C.: …

J.: Would you? That’s very kind of you. They won’t mind, will they?

C.: …

7. C.: No, of course not. I’m sure they’ll be pleased to help.

J.: …

8. J.: … It really is very kind of you to go to all this trouble.

C.: …

9. В.: Bob here. How’s things?

J.: …

10. J.: Very nice, too. Do you feel optimistic about it?

В.: …

11. J.: I shoudn’t think they’ll get many applicants with your qualifications.

В.: …

12. J.: You’re bound to get an interview. What’s the pay like incidentally?

В.: …

13. J.: Was the money the main reason for applying?

В.: …

J.: What was that then?

В.: …

14. J.: I bet you’ll cake walk it. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you, at any rate.

В.: …

IV. Reproduce the telephone conversations as close to the text as possible.

V. Make up telephone conversations considering these assignments.

1. Your colleague has come back from Italy where he spent his vacation. Phone him and have a talk about: a) the places he has been to; b) the hotels he has put up at; c) the facilities he has been offered; d) the hotel charges; e) the way he has amused himself; f) the people he has met.

2. You are taking a holiday and leaving Ottawa for a month. Phone your Canadian colleague to say good-bye and tell him how you are planning to spend your holiday.

3. You have a telephone call from your counterpart in London. After discussing business he says that his son is applying for a job. Ask him about the prospects of his son’s new job, its advantages and disadvantages and what his son feels about it.

3. A Persuation Which Failed

Harry: Hallo — 5289.

Cynthia: Is that Harry?

Harry: Yes — who’s that?

Cynthia: Oh, Harry. It’s me, Cynthia.

Harry: Cynthia? Cynthia! Oh yes. How are you?

Cynthia: I’m fine. And you and Barbara?

Harry: Oh, we’re both well.

Cynthia: Oh, that’s good. Look, I’m ringing to ask you a small favour. I hope you don’t mind.

Harry: No. No, of course not. Anything I can do, within reason.

Cynthia: Well, the thing is that — you know Shirley?

Harry: Shirley? I don’t think so.

Cynthia: You know, she’s the girl I work with. I think you met her.

Harry: Did I? When?

Cynthia: She’s the one with red hair.

Harry: Oh.

Cynthia: Anyway, I wondered — well — you see Shirley and I are giving a party. Of course we wondered if you and Barbara would like to come…

Harry: Well, that’s very nice of you, I’m sure.

Cynthia: We’d love to have you.

Harry: We’d love to come.

Cynthia: Well, the point is, you see, that we wanted to invite a lot of interesting people.

Harry: Oh yes -

Cynthia: Yes — and well, you know our flat; it really isn’t big enough. And we were wondering if there was just the smallest chance of having it at your place — just for the evening, you know.

Harry: Well — we’d love to let you, of course. But just now it would be a little difficult.

Cynthia: Oh, no. It wouldn’t be now. In about two week’s time.

Harry: Two weeks. Oh, I see. But — unfortunately — I think that would be even more difficult. You see, we’re haying part of the house redecorated, and in two weeks -

Cynthia: I suppose it wouldn’t be possible to use the rooms that aren’t being decorated?

Harry: Well, you know what it’s like, Cynthia, when you’ve got the decorators in; you don’t quite know where you are if you see what I mean -

Cynthia: Yes — yes, of course. It is a pity. I don’t know what we’ll do.

Harry: I’m sorry. We’d help if we could.

Cynthia: Well… Good-bye then, Harry.

Harry: Good-bye, Cynthia.

4. Two Sisters on the Telephone

Joyce: Well, what have you been up to since I saw you first?

Kate: I haven’t been up to anything, I’m afraid. Just the usual grind. Have you been doing anything?

Joyce: No. James is off to Italy again tomorrow for his firm. He rings me every night from Turin, which is a comfort.

Kate: So you’ll be absolutely tied again with the children?

Joyce: Of course.

Kate: The firm would never pay for you to go to Italy as well, I suppose?

Joyce: As a matter of fact, that’s just come up for the first time. There’s a big job of entertaining coming off in about a fortnight — all the possible buyers and their wives are invited to Turin for a demonstration and a party afterwards, and they say they’d pay for me to go and play hostessand look nice, but of course, with the children… And anyway, what have I got to look nice in?

Kate: I say, ducky, I’ve just got an idea. When is this do at Turin? It wouldn’t be at a week-end by any chance?

Joyce: It’s to be a Saturday — best time for a party.

Kate: Well, look here, why don’t I come and look after Michael and Jane for the week-end? They’re not such demons as you seem to think, you know. We usually get on fine.

Joyce: Oh — it’s terribly sweet of you, but I couldn’t.

Kate: Yes, you could. Now sort it out with James this evening before he goes. I’ll come over on the Friday night, and I’ll stay over the Monday too — I’ll get the day off from the office — so you needn’t get back till late on Monday and you can see a bit of Italy as well.

Joyce: No, I can’t really… Really you shouldn’t.

Kate: Now shut up. No more nonsense. It’s settled. Just see the frig is full of food. I’ll take them to the Zoo on Saturday. And what’s wrong with that trouser suit? You look splendid in it.

Joyce: Do you really think I could? I never thought of a trouser suit for the party…

5. Renting a House

(Anglo-American Misunderstandings)

The telephone rings in a house in the London suburb of Twickenham.

An American Voice: Good morning. Is this Mrs Jones?

Mrs Jones (rather puzzled): I’m Mrs Jones.

American: Oh, fine. I’m Drusilla Applebee, and I’m calling about your house you advertised to rent for the summer months.

Mrs Jones (still rather puzzled): Why yes, when are you going to call?

Mrs Applebee: I mean I’m calling you about it right now. We’re a large family and your house sounded the sort of place we need for July, August and September.

Mrs Jones: Oh, yes, of course. How many are you in your family?

Mrs Applebee: Six, so we hope you have plenty of closets.

Mrs Jones: Er — oh, you mean what we call cupboards! Yes, we’ve got plenty of those. And lots of chests of drawers too.

Mrs Applebee: Chests of drawers…?

Mrs Jones: Oh, I should have remembered — the American term is “dresser”, isn’t it?

Switchboard operator (in strong American voice): Are you through?

Mrs Jones: Oh, yes, I’m through.

Mrs Applebee (simultaneously): No, no, we’re not through yet. I’m speaking from my husband’s office and they’re all Americans here. Gosh, I’d no idea the British were so different about languages. What do you mean when you say you are through? We mean we’re finished with the call.

Mrs Jones: Oh dear, we mean we’ve been “put through”, we’re connected! Perhaps you’d like to come and see the house and then we needn’t misunderstand each other quite so much.

Mrs Applebee: I should love to see your house, but I’ve no car right now. Can I get to you easily some other way? I’m in Church Street.

Mrs Jones: You can take a 27 bus to the Twickenham roundabout, then use the subway right there…

Mrs Applebee: Excuse me, I didn’t know the subway went to Twickenham.

Mrs Jones: Oh, of course, my fault. The underground doesn’t go to Twickenham. I just meant when you get off the bus you take the passage under the road and when you come up the other side our house is at the end of Aldridge Avenue, opposite. How soon would you like to come?

Mrs Applebee: Is three o’clock today OK?

Mrs Jones: Fine, I’ll expect you.

EXERCISES

I. Define the meaning of these phrases. Make up sentences using them.

to ask somebody (to do) a favour, to be disorderly, to be rung up by somebody, to view one’s suggestion (un)favourably, to do something within reason, to give a party, to be wondering if, to redecorate a room (cottage, house), to know where you are, to be up to something, just the usual grind, to be off to (some town or a country), to be a comfort, as a matter of fact, to play hostess, to look nice in some dress, to look after somebody, it is terribly sweet of you, to come over, to stay with somebody, to get a day off, it’s settled, what’s wrong with him?, to be rather puzzled, to sound the sort of place we need, how many are you in the family?, to be so different about languages, to be put through, I should love to do something

II. Rephrase these sentences.

1. I’m ringing to ask you a small favour. 2. I’ll do anything — within reason, of course. 3. We’d love to come. 4. In about two weeks’ time. 5. Well, you know what it’s like. 6. What have you been up to since I saw you last? 7. James is off to Great Britain. 8. This is a comfort. 9. I’ll be tied with my work. 10. This situation has just come up for the first time. 11. I’m not going to play hostess. 12. When is this do in our club? 13. Her children are such little demons. 14. We usually get on fine. 15. It is so sweet of you. 16. Sort it out with Mike first. 17. Wednesday is his day off. 18. It’s settled. 19. What is wrong with him?

III. Give the American terms for:

to let, is that Mrs Jones?, to call up, a cupboard, a chest of drawers, to be through, now, subway, underground

IV. Fill in the missing remarks in these snatches of telephone conversation.

1.A: Is that Harry?

B: …

2. A: I’ve been ringing you for ten minutes and can’t get through. What’s the matter?

B: …

3. A: Could you do me a favour, Jack?

B: …

4.A: We wondered if you and your wife could come to our party.

B: …

5. A: We wanted to invite a lot of interesting people, but our flat is so small.

B: …

6. A: Why did you make up your mind to have your house redecorated?

B: …

7.A: It’s a pity you will not come to our party.

B: …

8. A: What have you been up to since I saw you last?

B: …

9. A: What have you been doing of late?

B: …

10. A: When did this thing come up for the first time?

B: …

11. A: Will there be a big job of entertaining people when they come?

B: …

12. A: When is this do at your Institute?

B: …

13. A: It is terribly sweet of you to invite us for your birthday party.

B: …

14. A: What’s wrong with my explanation?

B: …

15. A: Good morning, Jones is here.

B: …

16. A: Mrs Shirley, from the ad I found out that you are going to let your cottage for the summer. Could you give me some information about it?

B: …

17. B: How many are you in your family?

A: …

18. A: I would like to see your house. When should I come?

B: …

19. A: How could I get to your house?

B: …

20. A: Can I get there some other way?

B: …

21. A: …

B: How soon would you like to come?

V. Reproduce the telephone conversations as close to the text as possible.

VI. Make up telephone conversations considering these assignments.

1. You are going to rent a cottage at the seaside for a period of three summer months. In the advertisement section of a local paper you found a cottage which suits you. In a talk with the landlady find out: a) how far is the cottage from the beach; b) which is the best way to get there; c) what conveniencies are available in the house; d) what is the rent; e) when can you come to see the cottage.

2. Your wife and you go to the theatre for the Saturday night performance. Your neighbour kindly offers to be baby-sitting while you are at the theatre. In a telephone conversation thank her, tell her a few words about your son and give her some necessary advice.