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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 1827 Views
I think "May I ask who's calling" is more polite. Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:26:55 PM 1243 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:31:17 PM 1198 Views
Well, but... Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:42:22 PM 1285 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:05:01 PM 1167 Views
you may not BE a receptionist... LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:20:09 PM 1299 Views
"And your name, so I can tell (the person you asked for)?" *NM* Hezzah - 23/09/2010 12:34:18 AM 580 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:33:24 PM 1280 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:38:45 PM 1131 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:55:34 PM 1445 Views
Well, the whole asking permission bit is part of being polite. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 09:05:43 PM 550 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:06:47 PM 1155 Views
Not so good for the phone answering, then. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:29:34 PM 579 Views
Hmm... Isaac - 22/09/2010 08:59:23 PM 1352 Views
It's "who" *NM* Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:50:15 PM 578 Views
Quite true Isaac - 22/09/2010 10:07:46 PM 1279 Views
I say, "May I ask who's calling?" Tigr - 22/09/2010 09:00:10 PM 1233 Views
What do you do if they say "No" ? TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:43:42 PM 1204 Views
Than you say. ''Ok." They may have a reason for not disclosing their name. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:56 PM 1209 Views
That reason is often that they are nutters. M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 10:29:19 PM 1310 Views
I hate it when people pull the "attorney-client privilege" thing. Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:31:01 PM 1112 Views
They are almost invariably nutters. Elaine - 23/09/2010 01:45:41 PM 1595 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 590 Views
Tools! Tigr - 22/09/2010 10:13:32 PM 1197 Views
I usually ask: "Who am I speaking with, again?" ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:12:29 PM 1292 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 1425 Views
^ this. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:23:00 PM 554 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 1388 Views
+1 *NM* Rebekah - 22/09/2010 10:10:59 PM 661 Views
I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:27:05 PM 1355 Views
Re: I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:40:10 PM 1374 Views
well, i can sympathize with that a bit at least LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:00:34 PM 1517 Views
"Who should I say is calling?" *NM* TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:41:57 PM 568 Views
This. It's polite, and asks the question correctly. beetnemesis - 23/09/2010 02:05:01 AM 1207 Views
I usually say "Who may I say is calling?" but that works too... Tom - 23/09/2010 01:59:03 PM 1577 Views
language games..... temeraire - 22/09/2010 09:42:35 PM 1228 Views
There would be apoplectic outcries if I answered the phone in such a way lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:45:56 PM 1412 Views
yeah.... i'm happy i get to be informal! temeraire - 23/09/2010 02:58:31 AM 1264 Views
Who is this? is unprofessional random thoughts - 22/09/2010 09:45:05 PM 1286 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:48:58 PM 1459 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:54:13 PM 1251 Views
it is not US standards. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:03:47 PM 588 Views
good. *NM* ironclad - 22/09/2010 10:13:22 PM 637 Views
I generally don't because BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 10:43:38 PM 1152 Views
well fair enough... ironclad - 23/09/2010 08:07:08 AM 1222 Views
it doesn't matter if you HAVE to know their name. LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:07:18 PM 1308 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 1323 Views
You are being silly and immature. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:20 PM 1106 Views
Thanks for your input? lyringlas - 22/09/2010 10:17:21 PM 1383 Views
I usually say, "B*tch, who you be!?" Mats Gambling Buddy - 22/09/2010 10:13:57 PM 1212 Views
Do you pronounce that with a click sound? Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 10:15:29 PM 1268 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 1213 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? Zeeb - 22/09/2010 10:29:33 PM 1074 Views
Perfect. *NM* Avendesora - 23/09/2010 12:47:14 AM 632 Views
No you are *NM* Zeeb - 23/09/2010 11:53:07 AM 639 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 1377 Views
politeness is practically the definition of professionalism. LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:37:27 AM 1270 Views
Who is this? always comes across as rude. *NM* Chas - 22/09/2010 11:17:31 PM 565 Views
"Who may I say is calling, please?" is short and polite. Tashmere - 23/09/2010 01:13:43 AM 1217 Views
when someone asks me "may I ask who's calling?"... damookster - 23/09/2010 03:29:30 AM 1178 Views
that's because you're a tool LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:39:08 AM 1496 Views
because it amuses me *NM* damookster - 23/09/2010 03:41:18 AM 577 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 613 Views
Huh Sareitha Sedai - 15/07/2015 02:06:55 PM 774 Views
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