Then, perhaps more often than in ordinary conversation, in telephone conversation there tends to be a set theme — people do not phone each other accidentally in the way that they may meet in the street and the information which is exchanged probably tends to be related more to a single identifiable purpose.
Finally, the highly formulaic nature of both the opening and closing of a telephone conversation may be noted — the range of accepted linguistic devices for carrying out these operations is relatively small as compared with conversation in general, the predictability of what is likely to be said at those points is probably considerably higher and the stylistic distinctiveness of what takes place is at times extremely marked.
1. Making a CallI. When you make a call:
1. First check the code[1] (if any) and number.
2. Lift the receiver and listen for dialling tone (a continuous purring).
3. Dial carefully and allow the dial to return freely.
4. Then wait for another tone:
Ringing tone (burr-burr) the number is being called. The line is free.
Engaged tone (a repeated single note) try again a few minutes later.
Number unobtainable tone (steady note) replace the receiver, recheck the code and number, and then redial.
5. At the end of the call, replace the receiver securely.
II. When you answer the telephone:
1. Always give your name or the name of the office or your telephone number.
2. If you hear a series of rapid pips, the call is coming from a coin-box telephone. Wait until the pips stop and then give your name or telephone number.
III. When you make a call from a coin-box telephone:
1. First drop a coin piece (or pieces) into the slot.
2. Lift the receiver and listen for dialling tone.
3. Dial your number.
4. On hearing ringing tone, which means that the line is free, wait until your call is answered.
IV. When you make a call from an extension phone:
1. Wait for the switchboard operator to say: “Number, please”, or “Switchboard operator”.
2. Give the number of the person you are calling.
The operator will either repeat your number to make sure she got it right, or just say: “Thank you” and try to put you through.
3. Wait until your call is answered.
2. Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD)You may use a telephone operated by a system known as STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialling).
1. STD is quicker and cheaper, so dial as many of your calls as you can.
2. Maintain in your Personal Telephone Directory an up-to-date list of dialling codes and/or number of people you are likely to call. This will save you time in the future.
3. When you dial, don’t pause too long between digits.
4. If the number you want is engaged, wait a few minutes before dialling again.
5. Ask for the extension number on calls to a private exchange, this will save you time. If the extension you want is engaged it will usually pay, on an STD call, to clear and try again later.
6. If you hear a recorded announcement telling you that the trunk lines are engaged, replace the receiver and try again later.
7. Answer your telephone promptly, giving your name or the name of the office or telephone number. This saves the time and helps the caller.
3. International Subscriber Dialling (ISD)You can dial for yourself calls to most places in Europe and North America.
1. First dial the code of the country or the code for the place concerned and then the subscriber’s number.
2. If you wish to know the code for a place which is not shown in the Telephone Directory, ask the exchange operator.
3. When dialling to Europe or North America don’t pause more than two or three seconds between digits, especially the last few digits. The call may fail if you do. It helps to write down the whole code and number before you dial. You will often hear nothing for a half a minute or a little longer after dialling.
4. Do not replace the receiver before you have given the equipment time to connect the call.
You may sometimes hear a series of very rapid pips. This tells you that the automatic equipment is putting your call through and asks you to hold on.
5. Should you want the operator to get your call, or if you have any difficulty in dialling your number dial the operator and your call will be connected. The three minutes minimum charge applies on all calls made through the operator.
4. Trunk-Calls via OperatorIf the number you are calling is not on STD or ISD and you cannot dial the number direct, you have to make your call through the operator. When you book a trunk-call:
1. Give the country, the place concerned and the number you want your call to be connected with.
2. Say what kind of call you want to book.
3. Indicate the duration of your call if possible.
4. Give your name and telephone number.
Trunk-calls can be as follows:
1. ADC calls. ADC, which stands for “advise duration and charge”, means that when the call is finished the operator rings you back to tell you how long the call was and how much it cost.
2. Personal calls. They are made to a particular person. A fixed charge is made for the service, but you do not pay for the time taken to find the person. If he isn’t there, the call is tried again later without further charge.
3. Station-to-station calls. They are put through to the number you give.
4. Transferred-charge calls (or collect calls). They are paid for by the person receiving the call rather than the caller.
5. Government calls (or state calls). They are usually put through with a minimum delay. Only governmental offices, embassies and trade missions are entitled to book such calls.
The charge for a trunk-call is based on the duration of the call and the distance between the charging centres.
5. Using a Telephone DirectoryUsing a telephone directory is a simple procedure for those who live in small towns. Because in larger cities the use of a large directory is somewhat more difficult, knowing the organisation of a city directory may prove helpful.
The following information may be obtained on the front page of most alphabetical directories:
Number of the fire department, police, or ambulance.
Business office of the telephone company.
Telephone repair service.
Assistance, for help, in making a call.
Information, to obtain numbers not in the directory.
Long distance, to make a long-distance call.
Most directories contain space on the first page in which to write numbers that you call frequently. On the second and third pages you usually find a description of the many services offered by the telephone company, as well as other helpful information such as Speaking Clock, Weather Forecast, Motoring Information Service (for weather and traffic conditions on the roads). The main section of the alphabetical directory is the part that you use most frequently.
WORDS AND PHRASEStelephone телефон; e.g. May 1 use your telephone? Разрешите позвонить по вашему телефону? Are you on the telephone? У вас есть телефон? Не is speaking over the telephone now. Он сейчас говорит по телефону: The telephone is quite dead. Телефон не работает. I can’t get him on the phone. Я не могу дозвониться до него.
to telephone (to phone) smb., smth. звонить по телефону кому-л., куда-л. Syn. to ring smb. up, to call smb. up, to call smb., to buzz smb. Am. colloq.
call телефонный вызов, звонок; e.g. There’s a call for you. Вам звонят. I’ll answer the call. I’ll answer the telephone. Я подойду к телефону. to make a call звонить по телефону; e.g. Where can I make a call? Откуда можно позвонить? Syn. to give a call, to give a ring, to give a buzz Am. colloq.
receiver телефонная трубка; to lift the receiver поднимать телефонную трубку; Syn. to take up the receiver, to pick up the receiver; to replace the receiver положить телефонную трубку (закончить разговор); Syn. to hang up, to ring off
dial диск набора (на телефоне); to dial (dialled Br., dialed Am.) набирать (номер); e.g. I have dialled the number twice but there is no reply. Я набирал номер дважды, но никто не подходит (не отвечает).
dialling tone продолжительный гудок, означающий, что можно набирать номер; to listen for dialling tone ждать гудка
ringing tone редкие гудки, означающие, что линия свободна, ждите ответа
the line is free номер не занят; Ant. the line is engaged Br., the line is busy Am.
engaged tone частые гудки, означающие, что линия занята
number unobtainable tone гудок, означающий, что связи нет
a series of rapid pips серия частых сигналов
coin-box telephone телефон-автомат; Syn. telephone booth, box phone
extension добавочный номер; extension phone телефонный отвод; параллельный телефонный аппарат
switchboard коммутатор; switchboard operator телефонистка
trunk-call междугородный телефонный вызов;Syn. long-distance call Am.
subscriber абонент
Subscriber Trunk Dialling междугородная автоматическая телефонная связь; e.g. This city is not on STD. С этим городом нет автоматической телефонной связи.
Telephone Directory телефонный справочник;Syn. Telephone Book
to pause задерживаться, делать паузу
digit цифра
private exchange коммутатор (фирмы, учреждения и т.д.)
to clear разъединять (абонентов); Syn. to disconnect
recorded announcement записанное на пленку сообщение или объявление
caller лицо, которое звонит по телефону
International Subscriber Dialling международная автоматическая телефонная связь
to connect Am. соединять (абонентов); Syn. to put a call through Br.; e.g. I’m putting your call through. Я соединяю вас.
to hold on не класть трубку, ждать
to make a call through the operator позвонить через телефонистку
ADC = “advise duration and charge” сообщите продолжительность и стоимость разговора
personal call Br. разговор по телефону, заказанный на определенное лицо; Syn. person-to-person call Am.
station-to-station call разговор по телефону, заказанный на номер
абонента
transferred-charge call разговор по телефону, заказанный за счет вызываемого; Syn. collect call
charge плата (за телефонный разговор)
alphabetical directory алфавитный справочник
fire department Am. пожарная команда; Syn. fire brigade Br.
police полиция
ambulance скорая помощь
telephone repair service бюро ремонта телефонов
EXERCISESI. Find equivalents in the texts for these words, word combinations and sentences.
1. Поднимите телефонную трубку и ждите гудка. 2. Положите трубку. 3. Наберите номер. 4. Опустите монету. 5. Номер не занят. 6. позвонить через коммутатор. 7. телефонистка. 8. Подождите, пока вам не ответят. 9. междугородный телефонный вызов. 10. абонент. 11. междугородная автоматическая телефонная связь. 12. Номер занят. 13. цифра. 14. объявление, записанное на пленку. 15. международная автоматическая телефонная связь. 16. добавочный номер. 17. Позвоните телефонистке, и вас соединят. 18. Не кладите трубку. 19. Закажите междугородный телефонный вызов. 20. разговор по телефону, заказанный на определенное лицо. 21. разговор по телефону, заказанный на номер абонента. 22. разговор по телефону, заказанный за счет вызываемого. 23. пожарная команда. 24. скорая помощь
