Text "Telephone Conversations"
Telephone is the most frequently used means of communication in business because it's the quickest way to get or pass on information. Primary negotiations are very often carried out over the phone. Nevertheless, important telephone conversations concerning prices, terms of payment or claims, are usually con firmed by a letter.
To save time at the beginning and at the end of telephone conversations standard phrases are used. They are given below:
— «"Green & Co". Can I help you?» — Ôèðìà «Ãðèí è Êî». ×åì ìîãó ïîìî÷ü?
— «Could I speak to Mr. Green, please?» — He ìîãó ëè ÿ ïîãîâîðèòü ñ ã-íîì Ãðèíîì?
When pronouncing the telephone number each digit is spoken separately, i.e. no figure above nine is used. In USA "zero" may replace "oh". The figures are usually grouped rhythmically in pairs (pairing from the right). If the two digits of a pair are the same, it is usually spoken as "double three" etc. An exception is the GB emergency call 999 which is always "nine'nine'nine".
In numbers which include a code number, the code is to be separated
by a pause:
01-629 8344 – oh one//six two nine/eight three/double four.