不少自以为可以用英语进行简单会话的人,在面对用英语通电话的场所就会变得惊慌失措,不知所措也是容易见到的事。其实,用英语打电话有肯定的模式及惯用语,笔者简单总结如下:
当你拿起话筒用英语打电话时,开头打招呼的第一个词便是Hello,Hello,不像中文中的喂可以连喊几声,挂电话打招呼时,只须说一次已经足够。也可视状况说 Good morning 。习惯上,英语国家的人(尤其是美国人)打电话刚开始就自报名字或我们的电话号码,甚至是工作单位或住址等等。如: Hello 、This is 2856123 (喂,你好,我这儿的电话号码是2856123。)或 This is Margs phone or This is Mary speaking(我是玛丽)。有些人在接电话时只回答Hello,而等待他们开始说话。但如此做法一定地使他们提出Is this 7856111?(这是7856111电话吗?)或 Is that Peters phone?(这是彼得家吗?)如此的问题,必然致使双方在正式通话前花费不少时间与口舌。因此,不要只说Hello 而已,这一点与大家国内双方通话的情形相差甚远。
假如你发现他们要找的是另一个,或拨错了号码,这个时候,你最好能重复一下你的电话号码,然后告诉他们 Sorry youve dialed1 the wrong unmber (对不起,你拨错号了。)或简单回答:Sorry wrong number,不要一声不响地就挂断电话。同样,如果是大家自己拨错了号码也该简单地向他们说:Sorry , wrong number,再挂断电话。
用中文打电话或接电话时,可以问:你是哪个?但用英语通话时,则千万不能问:Who are you?问他们是哪一位时,可以用以下几种方法:
Whos that / whos speaking , please? 请问你是哪个?
Whom2 an I speaking to ? 跟我通话的是哪个?
May I have your name ?我可以问你的名字吗?
Is that you , ? / Is there, please?某某在吗?
回答他们问话或自我介绍时,可用This is Its speaking . It is here / Hello , Mary here . This is 3132459 等等,不可以用I am .假如他们找的正是本人,可用 Yes ,speaking 即可。
转告某人接电话时,可用Youre wanted on the phone 或Someone wants you on the phone(有人打电话找你)。也可说Theres telephone call for you(有你的电话)。
假如此人就在身边时可以说Its for you , Tom .或For you Tom(汤姆,找你的),若来电话时他们要找的人正在隔壁房间或在别处办事,你接了电话将来要过去叫他,请他们稍等一下时,可用Hold on please, Hold on a moment , please, just a moment, please, Dont hang3 uplease 等。假如来电话要找的人一时没办法找到,应尽快回答他们,并最后询问他们是不是想留下口信。这个时候可用May I take a message for you?(我可以给你带个口信吗?)或者Would you like to leave a message?(你要留吗?)反之亦然,如果是你打电话给某人,他们恰巧不在,你也可以需要接电话的人带个口信或留个便条,就说:Could4 you take a message for me please ?然后你可酌情简单地向接话者说:Please tell him that I want to speak to him 。(请转告他我有事要告诉他),或Tell him that I called(告诉他我来过电话)也可说:Will you please tell him to call me back later5?(请你告诉他回个电话给我,怎么样?)
当然,打电话也并不是尽善尽美,也有其烦人之时。譬如,你给某人打去电话时,他们正忙得非常。你最好礼貌地表示一下歉意,可以说:I am sorry to make a phone call to you when you are very busy 。(你目前正是非常忙的时候,我却打电话给你,非常对不起)。假如你有十分紧急的事需打电话给某人,又是清晨或半夜了,可以说:I am
sorry to have called you so early ,but(这么早打电话给你,对不起,但)。Sorry to have waked you wp
。I am sorry to have called you at such6 a late time but (这么晚打电话给你,真对不起,但)
假如在打电话或接听电话时,中途为了某事而不能不暂时中断与他们的通话,需请他们等候一下时,可以说:Excuse me 或
Excuse me for a moment(对不起,请稍等一下),第三拿起话筒时,自然要向他们道歉,应该说:I am sorry to have kept you waiting so long (非常抱歉让你久等了)。熟人之间也可以直接说:Are you still there ?(你还听着吗?)。
结束通话时,可以说:Call me at any time(随时打电话来),Please say hello to everyone (请代我向大伙问好),Nice talking to you (非常高兴与你通话)等等。电话中的告别一般用Good bye !或See you !
另外,电话号码在英语中的读法。一般按号码的顺序读数字的读音即可。数字0,即可读作Zero7,连在一块的相同的数字还可读成double。 如0771-5678900 读作zero double8 seven one five six seven eight nine zero zero 询问他们电话号码时,可以说 Could you tell me your telephone number ? Whats your number? Can you tell me his home number等。
最后,笔者列举一段英语电话会话实例以供读者参阅:
(The telephone is ringing电话铃响了)
James: Hello This is Johnsons Company9. May I help you?
A Man: Id like to speak to the manager10 please.
James: Hold the line, please. Ill see if he is around. Linda, Its for the manager. Do you know where he is now?
Linda: I think he has gone out and wont be back for quite a while11.
James: Hello ,Sir. The manager isnt in at the moment. Can I take a message?
The man:oh!yes , please. Just tell him Ill expect12 his call at 10 this evening. My number is 4856659,Thanks.
詹姆斯:你好!这里是约翰逊公司,我能帮忙吗?
A Man:我想找你们经理。
詹姆斯:请稍等一下,我看他在不在。林达,是找经理的,你了解他到哪里了?
林达:他可能出去了,要一阵子才能回来。
詹姆斯:你好,先生,大家经理此时不在,要留个口信吗?
The man:噢,是的。请告诉他我今晚10点钟等他的答复,我的电话号码是4856659,谢谢。