Punjabi/Conversation/MakingPhoneCall
ਫੋਨ ਕਰਨਾ - Making and answering phone calls
editWhen making a phone call you wait for a response from the other end before striking a conversation. The other person is most likely to call out a 'hello?', essentially seeking to know who is calling.
- Sunil (at the other end) : Hello?
Other responses could be a ਨਮਸਕਾਰ or ਸਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ। On receiving a response you call out the person you expect at the other end. If the other person doesn't know who is calling or doesn't recognise you, one of the first things to do is to introduce yourself before the conversation progresses any further.
- Sunil (at the other end) : Hello?
- Sanjeev : Hello Sunil, I am Sanjeev.
When you receive a response and you are not sure about the identity of the person responding, you confirm that the call has landed up with the intended recipient.
- Sunil (at the other end) : Namaskar?
- Sanjeev : Namaskar, is it Sunil?
Alternatively you may ask for confirmation of the number called.
- Sunil (at the other end) : Namaskar?
- Sanjeev : Hello, is it 99-885 28-481?
When you are answering a phone call and you find it is a case of wrong number you politely let the caller know that. Adding a ਜੀ at the end of the sentence adds to the politeness.
- Jeet Singh(at the other end) : Sat Sri Akal.
- Sanjeev : Sat Sri Akal Sunil, I am Sanjeev.
- Jeet Singh : This is wrong number.
If you happen to make the call to a wrong number, don't forget to say sorry - ਮੁਆਫ ਕਰਨਾ ਜੀ। Sample this conclusion of the above conversation.
- Sanjeev : Pardon me please.
When the conversation is over you may end the call by signalling that the conversation has concluded.
- Sunil (at the other end) : Hello?
- Sanjeev : Hello Sunil, how are you?
- Sunil : I am good, how are you?
- Sanjeev : I am also good. Ok, I am hanging up.
So you have seen how a phone call is made or answered. In the next two pages we turn to some specific situations requiring phone calls.