ABOUT MEI was born in Edinburgh

in 1974. When my mum was pregnant with me, she was convinced that I was going to be a boy because I kicked so

much...!

I have lived in Edinburgh, Birmingham, Florence,

Bologna and Pescara. But my favourite place is where I

spent my holidays as a child: Galloway, in the south-west

of Scotland

I have a degree in Music and Italian

Studies and a PhD in linguistics. My

research interest in metaphor combines

psychology, learning, language, and non-

linguistic communication

I have been a musician all my life, and can play piano, violin, cello and some

baroque instruments. I sing in the Coro della Virgola and still do some solo concerts when I can find the time...

THIS IS WHERE I COME FROM

Edinburgh

Galloway

TELEPHONE LANGUAGE

Leaving a message

MAKING A PHONE CALL Phone calls are conversations

A phone call is actually three conversations: Hello What I’m calling about Goodbye

MAKING A PHONE CALL When we make a phone call, we expect some

things to happen We expect the phone to ring 2-3 times before

being answered Dring dring... dring dring...dring dring... HELLO?

We expect to say some meaningless things before we say what we really want to say Hello? - Hello, how are you? - Fine thanks how are you?

- Oh fine, you know. We expect to have a conversation

i.e. Exchange information with a person We expect to say some meaningless things

before we hang up Oh well, nice speaking to you – Yeah, you too – speak

soon bye – Bye then, bye – Bye bye – Bye.

LEAVING A MESSAGE Sometimes we can’t speak to the person we’re

phoning In order to cope with this situation, we need to

learn how to leave a message This is also very formulaic, but different to a phone-

call formula, because there is no conversation. There are still 3 phases, but the first and last are

extended:1. Say hello, and introduce yourself

Hi, it’s ___ here. 2. Say what you need to say

I need to talk to you about...3. Say goodbye and when you’ll be in contact again

Well, I’ll try to call you back later. Bye.

VOICEMAIL AND SECRETARIES Leaving a message is always a

disconcerting experience, but it is easier with voicemail than with a real-life secretary because...

1. You speak directly to the person you were wanting to speak to

2. You don’t have to interact with a person you don’t know (= understand their accent)

3. You don’t need to paraphrase what you were wanting to say

VOICEMAIL AND SECRETARIES Typical phrases in a voicemail message

Office You have reached Wellington International. All

our operators are busy at the moment. Please leave your name and number and we will call you back.

Impersonal Please leave a message after the tone.

Private Hello, I’m not able to take your call at the

moment. Please leave a message and I’ll call you back / I’ll get back to you.

Personal ??? (anything is possible)

SPEAKING WITH SECRETARIES You don’t always realise immediately

that you’re not speaking to the person you want to speak to...Hello?

So you might start by saying Is that ___?Am I speaking to ____?

Or you could always start by sayingCould I speak to ____, please?Can I speak to ____? Is ____ there?

SPEAKING WITH SECRETARIES

A Hello?B Hello. Can I speak to Mr Mills, please?A I’m sorry, I’m afraid he’s busy.

(oh dear – what now??? This is where it gets stressful!)

The secretary asks who you areWho’s calling?Can I take your name, please?

1.Then offers to forward your callI’ll put you through.Just a moment.Hold the line.

2.Or offers to take a messageCan I take a message?Would you like to leave a message?

1. SAY HELLO / WHO YOU ARE Leaving a message on voicemail

Hi/ Hello, it’s ____ here. (=informal) This is ____ speaking. (=neutral) This is a message for ____ from ____ (=formal)

Leaving a message with a real person I’m ____ (=informal) This is ____ speaking. (=neutral) My name is ____ (=formal)

2. SAY WHY YOU’RE CALLING Leaving a message on voicemail (=direct

speech) Calling a friend for a chat

I just called for a chat. It’s nothing important. Calling somebody you know for information

I’m calling to ask / say / let you know... Calling somebody you don’t know for information

I’m calling about _____.

Leaving a message with a real person (=indirect speech)

Calling somebody you know for information I’m calling to ask / say / let you know...

Calling somebody you don’t know for information I’m calling about _____.

3A. SAY IF YOU’LL CALL BACK Leaving a message on voicemail (=direct

speech) Calling a friend for a chat

I’ll try and call/phone you later Calling somebody you know for information

I’ll call/phone back later if I don’t hear from you first Calling somebody you don’t know

My number is ____ / I can be reached on _______.

Leaving a message with a real person (=indirect speech)

Calling somebody you know for information Tell him/her I’ll call/phone back later if I don’t hear

from him/ her first Calling somebody you don’t know

My number is ____ / I can be reached on _______.

3B. SAY GOODBYE Leaving a message on voicemail

Calling a friend for a chat Speak soon. Take care. Bye then. Bye.

Calling somebody you know for information That’s all. Thanks. Goodbye.

Calling somebody you don’t know Thank you. Goodbye.

Leaving a message with a real person That’s all. Thanks. Goodbye.

PUTTING IT TOGETHER Choose the most appropriate response

a) Can I speak to Tony?b) My name is Bond, James Bond.c) Oh, right. Can I leave a message?

PUTTING IT TOGETHER Choose the most appropriate message

to leave on the voicemaila) Alrigh’, nigga! How’s tings? Hey man, I

need some blow, You got some, huh?b) Hello, I’m calling about the advert you

placed in the paper for pharmaceutical products

c) Listen, things really aren’t working out between us. We need to talk. Call me, OK?

PUTTING IT TOGETHER Which phrase is an appropriate way to

end this call? a) Can I leave a message?b) I’d like to speak to him as soon as

possible.c) After five thirty, then. Thanks.