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Exodejavu Posted 17 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
  

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? ]

— Philip

  • 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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1 Answers
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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?]
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