Telephone language

1. TELEPHONE LANGUAGE By Roberto Pesantes English Language Consultant

2. TELEPHONE TERMS ANSWER ANSWERING MACHINE BUSY SIGNAL CALL CALLER CALL BACK / PHONE BACK CALL DISPLAY CELLULAR PHONE / CELL PHONE CORDLESS PHONE DIAL TONE DIAL DIRECTORY / PHONE BOOK HANG UP PHONE PHONE BOOTH / PAY PHONE PICK UP RECEIVER RING

3. TELEPHONE LANGUAGE ANSWERING THE PHONE INTRODUCING YOURSELF (THE CALLER) ASKING TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE GIVING DETAIL OF A CALL TAKING A MESSAGE FOR SOMEONE LEAVING A MESSAGE WITH SOMEONE ASKING SOMEONE TO WAIT CONNECTING SOMEONE PROBLEMS MISTAKES CONFIRMING INFORMATION FINISHING A CONVERSATION

4. ANSWERING THE PHONE HELLO (INFORMAL) GOOD MORNING (FORMAL) (YOUR NAME) SPEAKING. HOW MAY I HELP YOU? (COMPANY’S NAME). HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

5. INTRODUCING YOURSELF (CALLER) HI. IT’S (YOUR NAME). GOOD MORNING. THIS IS (YOUR NAME) CALLING.

6. ASKING TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE IS SARA IN? (INFORMAL) IS MR. TORRES THERE, PLEASE? CAN I TALK TO MR. TORRES, PLEASE? I’D LIKE TO SPEAK WITH MR. TORRES, PLEASE.

7. GIVING DETAIL OF A CALL I’M CALLING ABOUT (…) I’M CALLING TO CONFIRM THE MEETING TOMORROW. IT’S ABOUT THE JOB ADVERTISING

8. TAKING A MESSAGE FOR SOMEONE WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE? WHO’S CALLING, PLEASE? MAY I TAKE A MESSAGE?

9. LEAVING A MESSAGE WITH SOMEONE CAN YOU TELL HER / HIM THAT (YOUR NAME) CALLED? NO. THAT’S OK. I’LL CALL BACK LATER. THANKS. COULD YOU ASK HER / HIM TO CALL (YOUR NAME) WHEN HE / SHE GETS IN? MY NUMBER IS 345-3232

10. ASKING SOMEONE TO WAIT JUST A SECOND, PLEASE. HANG ON A SECOND (INFORMAL) PLEASE HOLD THE LINE. ONE MOMENT PLEASE.

11. CONNECTING SOMEONE I’LL PUT YOU THROUGH I’M SORRY BUT HE / SHE IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE MOMENT. I’M SORRY BUT HE / SHE IS NOT IN HIS / HER OFFICE. SHE / HE IS IN A MEETING RIGHT NOW.

12. PROBLEMS I’M SORRY SHE / HE IS NOT HERE AT THE MOMENT.

13. MISTAKES I’M SORRY, BUT I THINK YOU HAVE THE WRONG NUMBER. I’M AFRAID THERE IS NO ONE HERE WITH THAT NAME. ARE YOU SURE YOU GOT THE RIGHT NUMBER?

14. CONFIRMING INFORMATION OK, I’VE GOT THAT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO REPEAT THAT FOR ME PLEASE. LET ME REPEAT THAT BACK TO YOU JUST TO MAKE SURE. DID YOU SAY TOM OR JOHN?

15. FINISHING THE CONVERSATION WELL. I’LL TALK TO YOU SOON. SORRY BUT I HAVE ANOTHER CALL COMING THROUGH. OK, THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

16. LET’S GET SOME PRACTICE