DON’TS FOR THE TELEPHONE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17758, 30 January 1926, Page 4

DON’TS FOR THE TELEPHONE.

Don’t be indefinite. Have your number jotted down on paper. Exchange first, before calling. Have the gist of your con\ r ersation in your mind before you begin to speak. Nothing is so annoying as talking or listening to banalities on the telephone while the speaker is tr3ung to collect his or her scattered thoughts. If the conversa tion. is a business one, jot down the points to be dealt with first.

Don’t shout. This sets up a vibration and makes it impossible for you to be heard. Speak a little lower than usual, and speak close to the mouthpiece.

Don’t speak too quickly. Words rur. into each other even in ordinary conversation. Remember that the hearer cannot see your face or lips to help him understand.

Don’t swallow your words, and don’t miss out letters. The English language is terribly distorted nowadays. Most of us say “moden” instead of “modern’’ and “butn” instead of “button.” Give each word and each letter in it their proper value. Practise reading aloud with perfect pronunciation if you have a lot of telephoning to do. This will be a great help.

Don't say “It's me” when you ring a friend up. He can’t see you, and voices are often very different on the 'phone. Anounce your name clearly. “Airs Mary Smith speaking. Is Air Jones there?”

Don’t ring up employees in business houses at the busy time of the day to chat about a hat you have bought or the friend you saw last night. You may be holding up important business. Keep these friendly-, unnecessary calls for the lunch hour, or, better still, for evenings.

Don’t try to be funny on the 'phone unless you are quite sure of your hearer. The pert, cheeky remark may hurt on the ’phone without your smile and intonation to make it understood.