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Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder Send a noteboard - 22/09/2010 08:55:34 PM
For example, when someone asks "may I know your name(, please)?" the answer is not "yes, you may"


But the actual question here is: "May I know your name?"; the answer is, "sure, it's Lyringlas". I mean, it is inferred that they want your name, but you're actually asking for the permission to do so. So if you take out the permission to ask for their name, what are you actually asking other than "who are you?". I just don't like this-- it isn't me being rude, I am pleasant on the phone, I just don't like asking permission.

you're asking permission to know, not to ask. Logically, if they accept, they will tell you the answer since the next question would be "what is your name, then?"

It's a matter of politeness I guess. Sometimes, people don't feel it's necessary to tell you who they are or just don't want to. But your phrase assumes they will tell you.
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. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:19:28 PM 1755 Views
I think "May I ask who's calling" is more polite. Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:26:55 PM 1166 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:31:17 PM 1121 Views
Well, but... Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:42:22 PM 1218 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:05:01 PM 1083 Views
you may not BE a receptionist... LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:20:09 PM 1227 Views
"And your name, so I can tell (the person you asked for)?" *NM* Hezzah - 23/09/2010 12:34:18 AM 538 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:33:24 PM 1199 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:38:45 PM 1066 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:55:34 PM 1376 Views
Well, the whole asking permission bit is part of being polite. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 09:05:43 PM 511 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:06:47 PM 1083 Views
Not so good for the phone answering, then. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:29:34 PM 537 Views
Hmm... Isaac - 22/09/2010 08:59:23 PM 1228 Views
It's "who" *NM* Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:50:15 PM 532 Views
Quite true Isaac - 22/09/2010 10:07:46 PM 1191 Views
I say, "May I ask who's calling?" Tigr - 22/09/2010 09:00:10 PM 1157 Views
What do you do if they say "No" ? TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:43:42 PM 1115 Views
Than you say. ''Ok." They may have a reason for not disclosing their name. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:56 PM 1132 Views
That reason is often that they are nutters. M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 10:29:19 PM 1225 Views
I hate it when people pull the "attorney-client privilege" thing. Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:31:01 PM 1036 Views
They are almost invariably nutters. Elaine - 23/09/2010 01:45:41 PM 1510 Views
Ah, you mean because they want to sell my boss storm windows or vinyl siding. *NM* TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 10:30:15 PM 553 Views
Tools! Tigr - 22/09/2010 10:13:32 PM 1116 Views
I usually ask: "Who am I speaking with, again?" ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:12:29 PM 1209 Views
I'm of the opinion that when you are at work, you represent your employer M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 09:14:58 PM 1355 Views
^ this. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:23:00 PM 511 Views
Re: I'm of the opinion that when you are at work, you represent your employer lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:42:29 PM 1303 Views
+1 *NM* Rebekah - 22/09/2010 10:10:59 PM 606 Views
I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:27:05 PM 1282 Views
Re: I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:40:10 PM 1287 Views
well, i can sympathize with that a bit at least LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:00:34 PM 1432 Views
"Who should I say is calling?" *NM* TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:41:57 PM 526 Views
This. It's polite, and asks the question correctly. beetnemesis - 23/09/2010 02:05:01 AM 1094 Views
I usually say "Who may I say is calling?" but that works too... Tom - 23/09/2010 01:59:03 PM 1496 Views
language games..... temeraire - 22/09/2010 09:42:35 PM 1151 Views
There would be apoplectic outcries if I answered the phone in such a way lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:45:56 PM 1330 Views
yeah.... i'm happy i get to be informal! temeraire - 23/09/2010 02:58:31 AM 1192 Views
Who is this? is unprofessional random thoughts - 22/09/2010 09:45:05 PM 1206 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:48:58 PM 1371 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:54:13 PM 1166 Views
it is not US standards. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:03:47 PM 551 Views
good. *NM* ironclad - 22/09/2010 10:13:22 PM 595 Views
I generally don't because BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 10:43:38 PM 1076 Views
well fair enough... ironclad - 23/09/2010 08:07:08 AM 1153 Views
it doesn't matter if you HAVE to know their name. LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:07:18 PM 1228 Views
You don’t have to transfer for them if they refuse but you should still ask politely random thoughts - 22/09/2010 10:31:55 PM 1238 Views
You are being silly and immature. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:20 PM 1035 Views
Thanks for your input? lyringlas - 22/09/2010 10:17:21 PM 1302 Views
I usually say, "B*tch, who you be!?" Mats Gambling Buddy - 22/09/2010 10:13:57 PM 1140 Views
Do you pronounce that with a click sound? Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 10:15:29 PM 1185 Views
And I be all, like, sobbing and crying cause you're a rude jerk. And then you laugh at me some more TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 10:33:38 PM 1138 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? Zeeb - 22/09/2010 10:29:33 PM 982 Views
Perfect. *NM* Avendesora - 23/09/2010 12:47:14 AM 592 Views
No you are *NM* Zeeb - 23/09/2010 11:53:07 AM 589 Views
Please stop splitting hairs. You're way is simply inccorrect. You cannot justify the rudeness away. M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 10:49:05 PM 1301 Views
politeness is practically the definition of professionalism. LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:37:27 AM 1195 Views
Who is this? always comes across as rude. *NM* Chas - 22/09/2010 11:17:31 PM 522 Views
"Who may I say is calling, please?" is short and polite. Tashmere - 23/09/2010 01:13:43 AM 1142 Views
when someone asks me "may I ask who's calling?"... damookster - 23/09/2010 03:29:30 AM 1111 Views
that's because you're a tool LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:39:08 AM 1422 Views
because it amuses me *NM* damookster - 23/09/2010 03:41:18 AM 536 Views
It's quite simple, really. Do you like getting paid? Then answer the phone the way your boss wants *NM* Missa Sedai - 24/09/2010 03:46:24 AM 574 Views
Huh Sareitha Sedai - 15/07/2015 02:06:55 PM 710 Views
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