Exodejavu Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Telephone language
Hi,
I am not sure if the question of this post belongs here...but I cannot find a subdivision which is about conversation English.
[On The Phone]
Someone: May I speak to Jennifer?
Me: [???]
If I was working as a telephone operator in a company, and there were many Jennifer, how should I put my question if I wanted to make sure whom the exact Jennifer is?
1) "Jennifer who?"
2) "Which Jennifer?"
They sound like Chinese English...
3) "Do you have her surname?"
4) "May I have her surname?"
Would they sound impolite? They sound like that guy over the phone does know what her surname is...maybe he doesn't know...
Any suggestion?
Regards
I am not sure if the question of this post belongs here...but I cannot find a subdivision which is about conversation English.
[On The Phone]
Someone: May I speak to Jennifer?
Me: [???]
If I was working as a telephone operator in a company, and there were many Jennifer, how should I put my question if I wanted to make sure whom the exact Jennifer is?
1) "Jennifer who?"
2) "Which Jennifer?"
They sound like Chinese English...
3) "Do you have her surname?"
4) "May I have her surname?"
Would they sound impolite? They sound like that guy over the phone does know what her surname is...maybe he doesn't know...
Any suggestion?
Regards
Top answer
I think you want to be as brief as possible, while explaining the situation. Your response could be: We have a number of Jennifers here; do you know her last name? ]
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I think you want to be as brief as possible, while explaining the situation.
Your response could be: We have a number of Jennifers here; do you know her last name? [the department she works in?]
Your response could be: We have a number of Jennifers here; do you know her last name? [the department she works in?]
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