About me

1. About me I 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 dellaVirgolaand still do some solo concerts when I can find the time...

2. This is where I come from Edinburgh Galloway

3. Telephone language Leaving a message

4. Making a phone call • Phone calls are conversations • A phone call is actually three conversations: • Hello • What I’m calling about • Goodbye

5. 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 • Dringdring... dringdring...dringdring... 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.

6. 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: • Say hello, and introduce yourself • Hi, it’s ___ here. • Say what you need to say • I need to talk to you about... • Say goodbye and when you’ll be in contact again • Well, I’ll try to call you back later. Bye.

7. Voicemail and secretaries • Leaving a message is always a disconcerting experience, but it is easier with voicemail than with a real-life secretary because... • You speak directly to the person you were wanting to speak to • You don’t have to interact with a person you don’t know (= understand their accent) • You don’t need to paraphrase what you were wanting to say

8. 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)

9. 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 saying • Could I speak to ____, please? • Can I speak to ____? • Is ____ there?

10. 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 are • Who’s calling? • Can I take your name, please? • Then offers to forward your call • I’ll put you through. • Just a moment. • Hold the line. • Or offers to take a message • Can I take a message? • Would you like to leave a message?

11. 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)

12. 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 _____.

13. 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 _______.

14. 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.

15. Putting it together • Choose the most appropriate response • Can I speak to Tony? • My name is Bond, James Bond. • Oh, right. Can I leave a message?

16. Putting it together • Choose the most appropriate message to leave on the voicemail • Alrigh’, nigga! How’s tings? Hey man, I need some blow, You got some, huh? • Hello, I’m calling about the advert you placed in the paper for pharmaceutical products • Listen, things really aren’t working out between us. We need to talk. Call me, OK?

17. Putting it together • Which phrase is an appropriate way to end this call? • Can I leave a message? • I’d like to speak to him as soon as possible. • After five thirty, then. Thanks.