(Office ambience)

 

M：Hello, Human Resources Department, this is Mary.

 

C：Hi Mary. How would you like to go to lunch at the new Italian restaurant in our building? 我有一张优惠券，买一送一。Sounds good?

 

M：Excuse me. Who's this?

 

C：是我呀！陈豪！你连我的声音都听不出来呀？

 

M：噢，是你呀！陈豪，You really should identify yourself every time you call someone.

 

C：嗨，都是熟人还要报自己的名字？

 

M：Not every one has the ability to recognize voices. Sometimes, there is background noise or a bad connection. 而且有的人的声音听起来很像的。

 

C：That's right。我有个朋友，他儿子的声音跟他的非常像。每次我朋友接电话时，我都以为是他的儿子，所以我就问：你爸爸在家吗？

 

M：How did your friend react?

 

C：开始他有点生气地说：我就是他爸。可有一次他回答说：我爸早死了。

 

M：It would not have happened if you identify yourself first. (Telephone rings...) Hello, this is Mary.

 

******

 

C：Hi Mary. 早上我看你有电话，所以就走了。

 

M：You did the right thing. 美国人打电话时一般不喜欢别人站在一旁听。

 

C：不过我还有个问题要问你。

 

M：What is it?

 

C：我有一次打电话给一个很重要的客户，他的秘书接的电话。那秘书就问我："May I ask who is calling?" 等我告诉她我的名字后，她又说："I'm sorry. Mr. Moore is in a meeting." 你说他是真的在开会，还是不想跟我说话？

 

M：这我可不知道。但是要是你先报了名字，接电话的人说某某人不在，你就不会有这种疑问了。

 

C： 那倒也是。Mary, is there any time when I wouldn't need to say who I am?

 

M：Well...If you call your girlfriend three or five times a day, I don't think you need to identify yourself. 你可以说："Hi honey...", or "Hi sweetheart..."

 

C：你开什么玩笑呀！ I don't even have a girlfriend. 我连女朋友还没有呐！

 

M：Yes, I WAS kidding. 因为在商业场合是不可能，也不允许这样说的。

 

C：Mary, 请你把我们谈到的电话礼节总结一下吧！

 

M：It's simple: always identify yourself when you call someone; step away when someone is on the phone; be aware that business phone calls should be formal and are different from private calls.

 

C：Thank you Mary!