Как вести беседу по телефону
Шрифт:
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
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 [59] . 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 [60] I can’t be very much help to you there [61] .
59
I’m very well, thanks: a slightly formal reply to the question “How are you?” than either ‘Tine, thanks” or “Oh, not so bad; you know”.
60
I’m afraid: a common conversational way of introducing an apologetic note into what is being said
61
there: in that respect
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 organize [62] ourselves 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 [63] .
Joan: Oh, I see. I didn’t realize that.
62
organise: note this colloquial use of “organise” to mean “get, obtain” (by means of some kind of planning); e.g. “I feel hungry — I’m going to organise a sandwich for myself.”
63
to do smth. the hard way: to have difficulties to overcome; e. g. ‘The manager came up the hard way — he started as an errand boy.”
Charles: Yes. Great one for the open air [64] , you know.
Joan: Oh, it must be nice, but we could never contemplate it with our lot [65] . 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 [66] noisy kids.
64
Great one for the open air: I have a strong liking for the open air. The phrase “a great one for” is sometimes used to indicate strong preferences, as in “Jimmy’s a great one for football”, etc. there often seems to be some humorous intent when the phrase is used.
65
our lot: our family
66
put up with: toletate. Note the difference of meaning with “put up” to mean “accommodate”, as in “They’ll put up noisy kids in that hotel”.
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 [67] . He may know it”.
67
give Charles a ring: note the numerous verbs which have to do with making a telephone call. Some of these, beginning with the more formal and ending with the less formal ones are: ‘Telephone X, Ring X, Give X a ring, Give X a tinckle”.
Charles: Oh, dear I am a dead loss [68] , 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 [69] in the sand and popping into [70] the sea every five minutes, so we must be close to it-the closer the better.
68
a dead loss: someone or something completely useless
69
scrabbling: combines the notions of crawling in and scratching about in (копаться, рыться)
70
popping into: going into. The implication is that it would only be for a short time. “Pop in” is also used of an informal visit, e. g. “If you happen to be passing just pop in and see me, please”.
Charles: I know just how it is [71] .
Joan: And all the rooms have balconies facing the sea and overlooking the beach so it should be possible for mum and dad [72] to keep half an eye on [73] the kids while they’re playing and manage a quiet snooze at the same time occasionally.
Charles: Sounds too good to be true [74] . Expensive?
71
I know just how it is: a phrase used to express concern and sympathetic understanding
72
mum and dad: the speaker’s way of referrring to herself and her husband
73
keep half an eye on: pay some attention to
74
too good to be true: a fixed phrase (так хорошо, что и не верится; невероятно)
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 [75] a bit of exaggeration in the advert, it seemed to have a lot to offer [76] .
Charles: Had it?
Joan: Oh, yes. And the food is good — according to the advert, again — but they’re bound to say that.
75
allowing for: taking into account
76
a lot to offer: a fixed phrase often used for referring to something which has a number of desirable features
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 [77] , though. It’s just occurred to me — Mr and Mrs Croft from over the road [78] 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 [79] 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.
77
I tell you what: a colloquial way of introducing a suggestion
78
from over the road: the equivalent in less idiomatic English would be “who live on the other side of the road”
79
pop around: pop into
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 [80] ?
80
what with the children and the holiday traffic: the sense here is that “because of the children and the holiday traffic” the length of the drive will be a problem. This use of “what with” to mean something like “because of, in view of is quite common in conversational English; e.g. “What with doing the housework and the shopping, I never have a moment to spare”.