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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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. - 22/09/2010 08:19:28 PM 1487 Views
I think "May I ask who's calling" is more polite. - 22/09/2010 08:26:55 PM 927 Views
. - 22/09/2010 08:31:17 PM 886 Views
Well, but... - 22/09/2010 08:42:22 PM 967 Views
. - 22/09/2010 09:05:01 PM 839 Views
you may not BE a receptionist... - 22/09/2010 09:20:09 PM 991 Views
"And your name, so I can tell (the person you asked for)?" *NM* - 23/09/2010 12:34:18 AM 430 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? - 22/09/2010 08:33:24 PM 953 Views
. - 22/09/2010 08:38:45 PM 796 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? - 22/09/2010 08:55:34 PM 1143 Views
Well, the whole asking permission bit is part of being polite. *NM* - 22/09/2010 09:05:43 PM 395 Views
. - 22/09/2010 09:06:47 PM 835 Views
Not so good for the phone answering, then. *NM* - 22/09/2010 11:29:34 PM 436 Views
Hmm... - 22/09/2010 08:59:23 PM 977 Views
It's "who" *NM* - 22/09/2010 09:50:15 PM 424 Views
Quite true - 22/09/2010 10:07:46 PM 937 Views
I say, "May I ask who's calling?" - 22/09/2010 09:00:10 PM 926 Views
What do you do if they say "No" ? - 22/09/2010 09:43:42 PM 870 Views
Than you say. ''Ok." They may have a reason for not disclosing their name. - 22/09/2010 09:49:56 PM 880 Views
That reason is often that they are nutters. - 22/09/2010 10:29:19 PM 992 Views
I hate it when people pull the "attorney-client privilege" thing. - 22/09/2010 11:31:01 PM 792 Views
They are almost invariably nutters. - 23/09/2010 01:45:41 PM 1234 Views
Tools! - 22/09/2010 10:13:32 PM 856 Views
I usually ask: "Who am I speaking with, again?" - 22/09/2010 09:12:29 PM 972 Views
I'm of the opinion that when you are at work, you represent your employer - 22/09/2010 09:14:58 PM 1100 Views
^ this. *NM* - 22/09/2010 09:23:00 PM 401 Views
+1 *NM* - 22/09/2010 10:10:59 PM 486 Views
I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" - 22/09/2010 09:27:05 PM 998 Views
Re: I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" - 22/09/2010 09:40:10 PM 1024 Views
well, i can sympathize with that a bit at least - 22/09/2010 10:00:34 PM 1159 Views
"Who should I say is calling?" *NM* - 22/09/2010 09:41:57 PM 397 Views
This. It's polite, and asks the question correctly. - 23/09/2010 02:05:01 AM 837 Views
I usually say "Who may I say is calling?" but that works too... - 23/09/2010 01:59:03 PM 1248 Views
language games..... - 22/09/2010 09:42:35 PM 920 Views
There would be apoplectic outcries if I answered the phone in such a way - 22/09/2010 09:45:56 PM 1064 Views
yeah.... i'm happy i get to be informal! - 23/09/2010 02:58:31 AM 946 Views
Who is this? is unprofessional - 22/09/2010 09:45:05 PM 946 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional - 22/09/2010 09:48:58 PM 1104 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional - 22/09/2010 09:54:13 PM 916 Views
it is not US standards. *NM* - 22/09/2010 10:03:47 PM 414 Views
good. *NM* - 22/09/2010 10:13:22 PM 486 Views
I generally don't because - 22/09/2010 10:43:38 PM 811 Views
well fair enough... - 23/09/2010 08:07:08 AM 916 Views
it doesn't matter if you HAVE to know their name. - 22/09/2010 10:07:18 PM 981 Views
You are being silly and immature. - 22/09/2010 09:49:20 PM 797 Views
Thanks for your input? - 22/09/2010 10:17:21 PM 1018 Views
I usually say, "B*tch, who you be!?" - 22/09/2010 10:13:57 PM 896 Views
Do you pronounce that with a click sound? - 22/09/2010 10:15:29 PM 927 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? - 22/09/2010 10:29:33 PM 744 Views
Perfect. *NM* - 23/09/2010 12:47:14 AM 477 Views
No you are *NM* - 23/09/2010 11:53:07 AM 472 Views
Who is this? always comes across as rude. *NM* - 22/09/2010 11:17:31 PM 396 Views
"Who may I say is calling, please?" is short and polite. - 23/09/2010 01:13:43 AM 872 Views
when someone asks me "may I ask who's calling?"... - 23/09/2010 03:29:30 AM 841 Views
that's because you're a tool - 23/09/2010 03:39:08 AM 1178 Views
because it amuses me *NM* - 23/09/2010 03:41:18 AM 427 Views
Huh - 15/07/2015 02:06:55 PM 461 Views

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