陈豪在北京的ABC美国公司工作。每当有什么礼节方面的问题,他都去问美籍华人Mary。现在他正在打电话约Mary去吃午饭。

(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!