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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 1558 Views
I think "May I ask who's calling" is more polite. Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:26:55 PM 984 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:31:17 PM 945 Views
Well, but... Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:42:22 PM 1028 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:05:01 PM 902 Views
you may not BE a receptionist... LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:20:09 PM 1055 Views
"And your name, so I can tell (the person you asked for)?" *NM* Hezzah - 23/09/2010 12:34:18 AM 456 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:33:24 PM 1019 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:38:45 PM 855 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:55:34 PM 1201 Views
Well, the whole asking permission bit is part of being polite. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 09:05:43 PM 422 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:06:47 PM 899 Views
Not so good for the phone answering, then. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:29:34 PM 454 Views
Hmm... Isaac - 22/09/2010 08:59:23 PM 1054 Views
It's "who" *NM* Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:50:15 PM 450 Views
Quite true Isaac - 22/09/2010 10:07:46 PM 1003 Views
I say, "May I ask who's calling?" Tigr - 22/09/2010 09:00:10 PM 991 Views
What do you do if they say "No" ? TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:43:42 PM 934 Views
Than you say. ''Ok." They may have a reason for not disclosing their name. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:56 PM 945 Views
That reason is often that they are nutters. M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 10:29:19 PM 1058 Views
I hate it when people pull the "attorney-client privilege" thing. Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:31:01 PM 855 Views
They are almost invariably nutters. Elaine - 23/09/2010 01:45:41 PM 1298 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 457 Views
Tools! Tigr - 22/09/2010 10:13:32 PM 925 Views
I usually ask: "Who am I speaking with, again?" ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:12:29 PM 1031 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 1158 Views
^ this. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:23:00 PM 432 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 1076 Views
+1 *NM* Rebekah - 22/09/2010 10:10:59 PM 517 Views
I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:27:05 PM 1071 Views
Re: I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:40:10 PM 1090 Views
well, i can sympathize with that a bit at least LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:00:34 PM 1222 Views
"Who should I say is calling?" *NM* TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:41:57 PM 427 Views
This. It's polite, and asks the question correctly. beetnemesis - 23/09/2010 02:05:01 AM 900 Views
I usually say "Who may I say is calling?" but that works too... Tom - 23/09/2010 01:59:03 PM 1312 Views
language games..... temeraire - 22/09/2010 09:42:35 PM 980 Views
There would be apoplectic outcries if I answered the phone in such a way lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:45:56 PM 1129 Views
yeah.... i'm happy i get to be informal! temeraire - 23/09/2010 02:58:31 AM 1006 Views
Who is this? is unprofessional random thoughts - 22/09/2010 09:45:05 PM 1007 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:48:58 PM 1177 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:54:13 PM 971 Views
it is not US standards. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:03:47 PM 445 Views
good. *NM* ironclad - 22/09/2010 10:13:22 PM 513 Views
I generally don't because BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 10:43:38 PM 871 Views
well fair enough... ironclad - 23/09/2010 08:07:08 AM 973 Views
it doesn't matter if you HAVE to know their name. LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:07:18 PM 1048 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 1042 Views
You are being silly and immature. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:20 PM 859 Views
Thanks for your input? lyringlas - 22/09/2010 10:17:21 PM 1079 Views
I usually say, "B*tch, who you be!?" Mats Gambling Buddy - 22/09/2010 10:13:57 PM 963 Views
Do you pronounce that with a click sound? Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 10:15:29 PM 989 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 945 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? Zeeb - 22/09/2010 10:29:33 PM 805 Views
Perfect. *NM* Avendesora - 23/09/2010 12:47:14 AM 507 Views
No you are *NM* Zeeb - 23/09/2010 11:53:07 AM 500 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 1091 Views
politeness is practically the definition of professionalism. LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:37:27 AM 1015 Views
Who is this? always comes across as rude. *NM* Chas - 22/09/2010 11:17:31 PM 429 Views
"Who may I say is calling, please?" is short and polite. Tashmere - 23/09/2010 01:13:43 AM 933 Views
when someone asks me "may I ask who's calling?"... damookster - 23/09/2010 03:29:30 AM 907 Views
that's because you're a tool LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:39:08 AM 1237 Views
because it amuses me *NM* damookster - 23/09/2010 03:41:18 AM 456 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 493 Views
Huh Sareitha Sedai - 15/07/2015 02:06:55 PM 529 Views
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