Unite 4. Business appointment

Topical vocabulary

to make an appointment/to fix a date назначить (деловую) встречу

to have a pressing appointment иметь неотложное деловое свидание

to cancel the date/to call the date off отменить встречу

to make a business call/a duty call нанести деловой визит

to ring/call smb. up/to give a ring звонить по телефону

long-distance call междугородный разговор

call/pay phone телефон общего пользования

to dial a number набрать номер

telephone directory/phone book телефонный справочник

reception room приемная (комната)

caller/visitor посетитель

to give/leave a message передать сообщение

(устно или письменно)

to brief (smb.) on the subject кратко изложить дело

to settle the details/particulars решать частные вопросы/детали

round up/summing up session встреча для подведения

итогов/ резуль­татов

 

Phrases to Remember

The line is engaged/busy – Линия занята.

Hold the line/hand on – Не вешайте трубку.

He is in conference – Он занят деловым разговором.

He is fully booked – У него занят весь день.

We want to contact/get in touch with...— Мы хотим связаться с...

We'd like you to handle this business — Мы хотели бы, чтобы вы вели

это дело.

What about terms of (payment)? — Как насчет условий (оплаты)? We hope we'll come to an agreement — Мы надеемся прийти к соглашению.

It's a promising proposition! — Это заманчивое предложение!

 

Read and translate the dialogues. Rewrite them in the Indirect Speech.

a) Caller: I'd like to see the manager.

Secretary: I'm sorry. He's busy right now. He'll be free in a few minutes.

Caller: I'll wait. May I smoke?

Secretary: Yes, and you may also look at those magazines.

b) A.: Excuse my being late, Professor Jones. I've been delayed because of the

traffic jam.

Prof.: Your excuse sounds rather thin.

A.: I shall not keep you long, Professor Jones.

Prof.: Well, after all we needn't discuss the matter in de­tail. You'll only brief

me on the subject.

A.: Shall I make a detailed report to my own particular chief?

Prof.: Yes, and later on we shall have a summing up session together.

2. Read and compose your own dialogues combining the following phrases:

Business phone calls

1 2 3

A.: Hallo. Griffits Hallo, David Hallo. My name's

here. Can I speak Black speaking. Frank Duncan,

to Dr. Barton, May I have a Could I contact

please? word with the the manager,

dean? please?

 

В.: Hold the line, I'll just see if he I'll find out if he

please. is in. is in. Hang on

a moment.

A.: O.K. Right. All right.

 

В.: Sorry, but he is I'm afraid he is in Sorry, but he

out. conference. won't be back

till Monday.

 

A.: Would you tell Could you take a Can you tell him

him I called up? message? to ring me up

(when he gets back)?

 

В.: Certainly. By all means. With pleasure.

 

Making an appointment

J.: Will Dr. Mason I'd like to fix an Do you think the

be able to see me appointment assistant manager

at about 9:30 to- with the head could see me

morrow? of the College. tomorrow before

Would 9:00 10:00 a.m.?
tomorrow be all

right?

 

Secr.: Sorry, but I'm afraid not. He won't be in

he's fully booked He's got rather till 10:45, so

till 11:00. a full day to- the earliest

morrow. would be 11 a.m.

 

J.: Would ten to Could I make it How about 12:40?
one be convenient? a quarter to one?

 

 

Secr.: Yes, he is Sorry again, but Yes, I'll make a

free then. I'll ring you if note of it.
somebody can­cels.

 

3. Read and translate the dialogues:

A business interview

Mr. Brown: I should like to speak to Mr. Grey, if he's not engaged.

Secretary: Have you an appointment?

Mr. В.: No, but here's my visiting card. If you'll be kind enough to take it in, I'm sure he'll see me.

Secr.: He's on the phone just now. Would you mind waiting a few minutes? Come this way, please.

Mr. Grey: Good morning, Mr. Brown. Take a seat, please. What can I do for you?

Mr. В.: Well, as a matter of fact, I have a proposition to put before you. I think you know well the firm I repre­sent.

Mr. Grey: Oh, yes, but I've never had the pleasure of doing any business with your firm.

Mr. В.: Well, our company has branches all over Australia and New Zealand. So we'd like to get into touch with a good shipping firm in London, such as yours. The idea is that you should act as our agents and handle all our business on this side.

Mr. Grey: And what about terms of payment and the other essential conditions?

Mr. В.: Well, we propose to allow you a 2% commission on all business transacted. No doubt we shall come to an understanding on that point. You would have to attend to the shipment of all goods and arrange for the prices. We are accustomed to paying by bills at three months. What do you think about it?

Mr. Grey: Well, it sounds a promising proposition. I think some such arrangement would suit us very well, but I can't enter into an agreement or make a definite decision without discussing the matter with my partner. I'll just give him a ring.

 

Talking business

Borisov: Good morning! I’m Borisov. Here is my card.

Stanley: Glad to meet you, Mr. Borisov. Will you take a seat, please?

Borisov: Thank you.

Stanley: Did you have a good trip?

Borisov: Yes, it was quite nice, thank you.

Stanley: Well, Mr. Borisov, let’s discuss business now. What can I do for you?

Borisov: We know you’ve started producing a new model of pumps. The quality of the model meets our requirements and we’d like to place an order with you. Can you make an offer for 150 pumps?

Stanley: Sure! When would you like to have the pumps?

Borisov: We require the pumps for immediate shipment.

Stanley: Well, you see, Mr. Borisov, we are heavy with orders at the moment and can offer you only 50 pumps for now.

Borisov: And what about the balance of 100 pumps?

Stanley: We can start shipping them six months after we sign the contract. I think we can deliver the pumps in four lots of 25 pumps each at regular intervals within eight months. Is that all right with you?

Borisov: Not altogether. We require the pumps earlier. Could you start the deliveries, say, four months after we sign the contract?

Stanley: I’m afraid not. We can guarantee, however, that there won’t be any delay in shipment.

Borisov: All right. I think we could agree to that.

Stanley: Is there anything else you’d like to discuss, Mr. Borisov?

Borisov: Yes, there’s another point I’d like to clarify. When shall we meet to discuss the price and terms of payment?

Stanley: Let’s meet in two days time. I’ve got a crowded programme tomorrow and the day after.

Borisov: Fine. Good-bye, Mr. Stanley.

Stanley: Good-bye, Mr. Borisov