Phonetic Fanatic

Phonetic Fanatic

We are strongly encouraged to use the phonetic alphabet at work to ensure fast and clear telephone communication; but this only works if both parties are familiar with it…

 

Me: “Yes, I’ll give you the product code. Are you ready?”

 

Caller: “Yes.”

 

Me: “OK,”

 

Caller: “O... K...”

 

Me: “No, sorry, I was just saying ok. That’s not the code.”

 

Caller: “That’s not the code? What is the code?”

 

Me: “M for Mike.”

 

Caller: “Yes?”

 

Me: “Is your name Mike?”

 

Caller: “Yes.”

 

Me: “Oh. Well the code is M for Mike or Mother...”

 

Caller: “Mother?”

 

Me: “Yes the first letter of the code is M.”

 

Caller: “Oh, right. Yes. M. M. Yes. M for mother.”

 

Me: “The next letter is N for November”

 

Caller: “Yes, I’ve got M.”

 

Me: “No, N. N for”

 

Caller: “Oh. N. N… 4…”

 

Me: “Not N4 just N.”

 

Caller: “Just N?”

 

Me: “Yes, M.N. The next letter is… Q for Quebec.”

 

Caller: “How do you spell Quebec?”

 

Me: “Pardon?”

 

Caller: “How do you spell Quebec?”

 

Me: “Listen, let’s start again shall we? Can I just give you the product code?”

 

Caller: “Yes.”

 

Me: “Are you ready?”

 

Caller: “Yes.”

 

Me: “M… N… Q... 5… 7... 6... 0... W...”

 

Caller: “M. N. Q. 5. 7. 6. 0. W.”

 

Me: “Yes, that’s it.”

 

Caller: “Thank you very much for your help.”

 

Me: “That’s ok. Goodbye.”

 

Caller: “Goodbye.”

 

So much for speed and efficiency.