TELEPHONE POLITENESS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 413, 23 January 1909, Page 13

TELEPHONE POLITENESS.

: PHRASES FOR POST OFFICE : Uv','••: ' . OPERATORS.;,',';. ''.'.■: ; In order that" "abrupt and uncouth expressions"—so the order ruiis—may be avoided in the telepliono service, telephonists employed in/trunk'; Oxokangos are, directed, .by: the British Po'stmasterTGonefal,to' rnako : use; in, future ,of the follpwin^V.;'standard expressions" /,in. connection .with /their worK : ; and' supervising . officers', are required., to. impress upon'the .staff generally , the, necessity for . aanering to,' tho authorised -form .'of; words:'...."; i > To begin ;with; ;a telephonist at a .record, position answering. a call must'announce her presence by saying:— -"Trunks, 'number, please." - ■>:'.- ,".'■■ . The .second staudard, expression '• in the list -: "Pleaso repeat.'! '; ■' >vv ; .\ '■'■'':'.„•"' ; WhenVshe was recorded, the call another definite' formula-of, words has to be followed. .When a'; subscriber's attention has been obtained, for. a trunk call she mu'st'say.:;;-: -,' ; -., .. V'What'\is :your number,'"pleaVe?''.,■,,.;;** It 'Will • be '• noticed'-that':-/ the J-'Postmast'err' . General carefully 'enjoinsorrtlietelephonists' always' to says, the little.'word, "please;" '/:■ ; ''.'You; will b'o:'rung 'later.",'■ -; ."Please hold ;th,e,line."'.: "., '':''■':[:'■-■ ~, , : , "Leeds wants you now." .' ■ ~;' ■': ■■• M'Your'time is up; ; Will you have another three minutes?" ...'■'■■:■ .' . ' .. ; v. ' are amongst others of' the new. standard expressions' that have. to', be. adhere to. If a subscriber .is being :kept: waiting'unduly., it will no doubt, be 'some consolation -'to him when the young lady telephonist • repeats; the, Postmaster-General's new standard' expression; ; ~v '-.•'.■..' ■'....-.•'. ", ! ';■;',.. -,V ' "I am ringing (say) 800 Leeds," ■ ; ■'- and.politely informs him that sho is attending ,to the. call.- When.icallirig for a, distant town; on ; .tho trunk 'line,: the telephonist ijs'' recommended "to use,a'rising' inflection,:''add-' rng ''number,:'pleade,"..'and';'sp o(iy/; ! .:-.,. r . ~..,,; ■ v Scarcely''a .phase of telephone 'conversation' .is; now without -its "standard, expression," 'so. one/ '.may expect to hear. no. .more' complaints of incivility, or.inattention, since the-' operator, herself-is. but the' telephone of the Postmaster-General. • .'■';. '■'- ,