Making a Phone Call

What you’ll learn

Introduce yourself, ask for someone, and leave a message.

ណែនាំខ្លួនតាមទូរស័ព្ទ សុំជួប និងទុកសារ។

Situation and purpose

On a call, identify yourself and your purpose because the listener cannot see you. This is Maly is a common phone introduction. If someone is unavailable, ask to leave a message and provide a clear callback request. Spell names or repeat numbers when they are not heard clearly.

តាមទូរស័ព្ទ ត្រូវប្រាប់ឈ្មោះ និងគោលបំណង។ This is Maly ជារបៀបណែនាំខ្លួនទូទៅ។ បើអ្នកចង់ជួបមិននៅ អាចទុកសារ និងស្នើឱ្យទូរស័ព្ទត្រឡប់។

Useful expressions

Pattern	Example or form
Introduce yourself	Hello, this is Dara.
Ask for a person	Could I speak to Maly, please?
Leave a message	Could you ask her to call me back?
Check a detail	Could you spell your name?

Examples

1. I’m calling about the workshop.

   ខ្ញុំទូរស័ព្ទមកអំពីសិក្ខាសាលា។

2. Is Dara available?

   តើដារ៉ាអាចទទួលទូរស័ព្ទបានទេ?

3. May I leave a message?

   តើខ្ញុំអាចទុកសារបានទេ?

4. Could you repeat the number?

   តើអ្នកអាចនិយាយលេខម្ដងទៀតបានទេ?

Model conversation

Dara: Hello, this is Dara. Could I speak to Maly, please?

Maly: She’s in a meeting. May I take a message?

Dara: Yes. Please ask her to call me about tomorrow’s workshop.

Maly: Does she have your number?

Dara: Yes, she does. Thank you.

Maly: I’ll pass on your message.

Common mistakes

Instead of	Use	Why
Can I speak Maly?	Can I speak to Maly?	Speak to introduces the person.
Please ask her call me.	Please ask her to call me.	Ask + person takes a to-infinitive.

Practice

Try these questions before opening the answers. Write or say each answer.

សាកល្បងឆ្លើយសំណួរទាំងនេះជាមុនសិន មុននឹងបើកមើលចម្លើយ។ អ្នកអាចសរសេរ ឬនិយាយចម្លើយរបស់អ្នក។

1. Introduce yourself and ask for Dara.
2. Leave a callback request.
3. Correct: Could you to spell that?

Answers and explanations

Show answers / បង្ហាញចម្លើយ

1. Hello, this is Maly. Could I speak to Dara, please?

   Model answer: identify the caller and requested person.

2. Could you ask him to call me back?

   The request names the action needed.

3. Could you spell that?

   Could takes a bare infinitive.

Quick recap

• Give your name and purpose.
• Use speak to and ask someone to.
• Repeat names and numbers when unclear.