Т. Шелкова - Can You Speak Over the Telephone. Как вести беседу по телефону

Mr Stock: Yes, of course that’s the answer. Should’ve thought of that before. Well, that’s that one solved then. Better be getting back, I suppose. Will you tell Fred, or shall I?

Mr Hopkinson: Well, I’m seeing him this afternoon in any case so I’ll see to it, if you like, Peter.

Mr Stock: Would you? That’s splendid. Look, I must push off now. I’m seeing that chap from Benson’s at two-thirty.

Mr Hopkinson: Yes, don’t you worry. I’ll see that’s all laid on… [58] all laid on : all arranged . Bye.

Mr Stock: Bye.

I. Define the meaning of these words and phrases. Make up sentences using them.

surveyor, quick work, subsidence, to hold things up, on account of smth., in writing, to go ahead with arrangements, the outstanding work, to have a free hand, to put it in hand, to be at one’s disposal, to carry on, with any degree of certainty, to stand up to the stress, to get smth. in the post, to get things moving, emergency delivery, to be on the telex, what with that and this, to be up to one’s ears in work, to get smth. off, to count on smb., to let smb. down, round fortyish, heavy-going, to get one’s head screwed on the right way, to hold smb. up, to get things on hand, to be a bit short-handed on smth., to work like the clappers, to make it tricky, to bung the whole lot into one lorry, to push off, all laid on

II. Rephrase these sentences.

1. You’ve taken a load off my mind. 2. That brings us to Thursday morning. 3. I’ll put it in hand straight away. 4. I’m not keeping you from anything? 5. I’ll call in a building expert and get him to examine the chimney. 6. I can get that in the post this evening. 7. I’ll get things moving here. 8. You mean the one they wanted delivered by the 25th. 9. They’ve been on the telex about it to us this morning. 10. What with that and this big French order we’ve got coming up, I’ve been up to my ears in it. 11. Then we’d better get it off pretty soon. 12. Haven’t we got all the things we want on hand? 13. We’re a bit short-handed on the packing-side. 14. What about offering the boys in despatch a spot of overtime over the week-end?

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.

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] 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”. . 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’m afraid : a common conversational way of introducing an apologetic note into what is being said I can’t be very much help to you there [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] 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.” 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] 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.” .

Joan: Oh, I see. I didn’t realize that.

Charles: Yes. Great one for the open air [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. , you know.

Joan: Oh, it must be nice, but we could never contemplate it with our lot [65] our lot : our family . 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] 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”. noisy kids.

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] 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”. . He may know it”.

Charles: Oh, dear I am a dead loss [68] a dead loss : someone or something completely useless , 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] scrabbling : combines the notions of crawling in and scratching about in (копаться, рыться) in the sand and popping into [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”. the sea every five minutes, so we must be close to it-the closer the better.

Charles: I know just how it is [71] I know just how it is : a phrase used to express concern and sympathetic understanding .

Joan: And all the rooms have balconies facing the sea and overlooking the beach so it should be possible for mum and dad [72] mum and dad : the speaker’s way of referrring to herself and her husband to keep half an eye on [73] keep half an eye on : pay some attention to the kids while they’re playing and manage a quiet snooze at the same time occasionally.