在接打電話的時候其實也分熟人和陌生人、本人接聽和替人傳話等不同情況。
場景1 May I speak to Mr. Bentley, Please!
Jolly: Good morning! This is Jolly Tucker! May I speak to Mr. Bentley?
Bentley: Good morning! Miss Jolly! This is Bentley More speaking.
Jolly: Mr. Bentley: This is Jolly from CTD company. And I am very sorry for.
Bentley: It doesn't matter, Miss Jolly. I have said to your boss that every mistake deserve second chance to make it right from wrong.
Jolly: Thank You, Sir! Thank You!
Bentley: That's all right.
我們上學時候學的接打電話的方式通常是陌生人之間的通話。這樣的通話方式很正式,這在我們中文裡也是一樣。
場景2 Hi! Boris!
Justin: Hi! Bori!
Susan: No. It's Susan! Boris' sleeping!
Justin: Oh! Su, you've come back!
Susan: Just in this morning. Boris is too tired. And I'm just staying with Samantha.
Justin: How's she going?
Susan: She's fine. The fever's just gone.
Justin: Good to know that!
在和親自朋友打電話時——尤其是用手機通話時,我們上學時課本上的那套東西其實就沒啥用了。和我們用中文一樣,會直呼對方名字。
場景3 May I take message for him?
Stewart Hamilton: Good morning! May I speak to Mr. Philip Darnay. This is Stewart Hamilton.
Lidia: Sorry, Sir! Mr. Darnay is not in his office. He's been out since ten Am.
Hamilton: Then who's over there?
Lidia: This is Lidia. Mr. Darnay's secretary. And may I take your message for him?
Hamilton: No, Thanks! I will call him later.
在手機日趨普及的現在,已經很少再用到為某人帶口信這種座機電話時代的用語了——但是這種用法並沒有消失。尤其是在一些商業機構,座機電話作為一種儀式性象徵仍被保留並使用著。
腦補一個小知識:座機電話 過去都叫telephone, 現在有人會用 deskphone 或 desk-line 來區分 cellphone.