Capitulo 3, Scenas 3 e 4, Curso de conversation

(Languages of this post: Interlingua, English)

SCENA 3: Petro vade al officio de Alan Tanner. Ille dice que ille debe trovar un receptionista/secretaria, e ille volerea saper si Alan poterea adjuvar le con le problema. Alan suggere manieras differente pro initiar un cerca. Quanto a cercar un nove apartamento, il pare que un certe persona mysteriose jam ha resolvite iste problema pro Petro.

Petro: Senior Tanner? Alan?

Tanner: Oh, bon die, Petro. Entra.

Petro: Gratias. Ascolta, io ha besonio de vostre adjuta.

Tanner: Multo ben. Que pote io facer pro vos?

Petro: Il ha duo cosas, pro dicer le veritate.

Tanner: Si?

Petro: Primo, nos ha besonio de un secretaria/receptionista.

Tanner: Ah, un persona qui pote responder al telephono e scriber unes litteras, etc.

Petro: Si, exactemente.

Tanner: Un secretaria bilingue? Trilingue?

Petro: Ben, le anglese es le plus importante, postea le francese. Naturalmente a vices le germano poterea esser utile.

Tanner: Si. Vos vole un homine? Un femina?

Petro: Illo non ha ulle importantia, ma probabilemente illo essera un femina. Lo que nos vole es un bon secretaria con bon qualificationes.

Tanner: Multo ben. Primo io va a consultar nostre servicio de personal. Il ha etiam un agentia. E, naturalmente, on anque pote publicar un annuncio parve in le jornales. Ma esque vos vole alicuno rapidemente?

Petro: Si, le plus tosto possibile.

Tanner: Multo ben. Qual esseva le secunde cosa?

Petro: Le altere cosa es un appartamento pro me.

Tanner: Ma io credeva que vos jam habeva un appartamento.

Petro: No. Io vive nunc in un hotel. Io vole trovar un appartamento, e Catherina me ha dicite que vos poterea adjuvar me con iste problema.

Tanner: Si. Nos ha un officio de allogiamento, ma io crede que io videva alique indicante que vos jam ha un appartamento. Lassa me telephonar a Chambon. Un momento. (Usante le telephono) Senior Chambon, per favor. Si? Ille non es illac. Ben. Io es le senior Tanner. Io es con le senior Minelli. Il ha besonio de un appartamento e ... si? Ah, si, io anque credeva illo. Gratias. Chambon non es in su officio, ma le femina que con le qual io parlava diceva que illa es confidente que il ha un appartamento pro vos. Duo appartamentos, in le mesme etage. Alicuno in Strasbourg ha arrangiate toto.

Petro: Alicuno in Strasbourg?

Tanner: Si.

Petro: Duo appartamentos?

Tanner: Si. Vostre associate ...

Petro: Oh, que pesta!

Tanner: Perdon?

Petro: Excusa me. Esque io pote vider le senior Chambon?

Tanner: Si. Il va retornar a su officio in dece minutas. Ille es in le officio quatro centos dece un.

Petro: Io va vader illac pro vider le.

Tanner: Multo ben. Tosto io comenciara trovar pro vos un secretaria.

Petro: Gratias mille vices.

Tanner: Il es un placer.

EXERCITIO 3: Questiones cortese:

Guida: Que nos ascolta iste conversation amical.

Un homine: Como vade toto?

Un femina: Multo ben, gratias. E vos, como sta?

Un homine: Multo ben, gratias. Omne vade ben?

Un femina: Si, gratias. Omne vade ben. Como va le affaires?

Un homine: Oh, non mal. Omne va como sempre. Troppo travalio, nunquam assatis moneta, como sempre. Ma como va le affaires pro vos?

Un femina: Assatis ben. Nos non ha multo a facer durante iste periodo del anno. Como sta vostre familia?

Un femina: Omne va ben con illes. E como sta vostre chef?

Un homine: Oh, ille va ben. Ille es multo preoccupate in iste momento.

Guida: Isto me pare assatis facile. Petro voleva clarificar le historia de su appartamento. Que nos vide le proxime cosa que le confronta:

SCENA 4: Geneva, le officios del holding: Petro parla con le senior Chambon, qui ha le responsibilitate pro cercar appartamentos pro le personal de su compania. Le secretario de Petro, Alicia, il pare, telephonava ex Strasbourg e reservava duo appartmentos pro ille e illa, le un juxta le altere. Petro dice que ille non vole viver apud su secretaria e que ille vole un parve apartamento in un altere edificio a un certe distantia de illa.

Petro: Bon die, senioretta.

Le secretaria: Bon die, senior.

Petro: Esque io pote parlar al senior Chambon, per favor? Io es Petro Minelli. Le senior Tanner me ha inviate hic.

Le secretaria: Io lo regretta, ma le senior Chambon non es in su officio in iste momento. Ma il probabilemente revenira multo tosto.

Petro: Multo ben. Esque io pote attender le?

Le secretaria: Certemente. Vos pote seder vos illac si vos vole. ... Ah, le senior Chambon ha revenite. Io va dicer a ille que vos le attende.

Petro: Multe gratias.

Le secretaria: Illo es un placer.

Chambon: Vos es le senior Minelli sin dubita.

Petro: Si, io es ille.

Chambon: Entra. Excusa me pro non esser hic quando vos arrivava.

Petro: Illo non ha ulle importantia. Io non debeva attender vos multe tempore.

Chambon: Ben. Io suppone que vos vole vider me a causa de vostre appartamento.

Petro: Exactemente.

Chambon: Ben. Io crede que io ha duo appartamentos convenibile a vos. Illos es un pauco car, ma vos diceva que illo non ha ulle importantia.

Petro: Como?

Chambon: Si. Le precio de location es octo mille duo centos septanta francos suitze. Illos es duo appartmentos juxta se, e nos non ha besonio de illos immediatemente.

Petro: Quanto es illo in Euros?

Chambon: Eh ben ... que nos vide ... Illo es octo mille cinque cento euros.

Petro: Octo mille cinque cento euros ... Ascolta, io crede que il ha un error.

Chambon: Ah, si?

Petro: Vos ha recipite un demanda de Strasbourg?

Chambon: Exactmente.

Petro: Esque vos recipeva un littera de ...

Chambon: No. Nos recipeva un telex. Illo esseva signate per ... attende. Io debe haber lo in iste classificator. Si, A. Martini. Alicia Martini.

Petro: Alicia Martini. Si, io crede que il ha un error.

Chambon: Ah bon?

Petro: Si. Il pare que mi secretaria non comprendeva exactemente lo que io voleva. Io ha besonio solmente de un loco assatis parve que non es troppo car.

Chambon: Parve?

Petro: Si, multo parve e multo economic. Un studio assatis parve me suffice.

Chambon: Ah, illo va esser multo plus difficile a trovar. Appartamentos pro personas non maritate es plus difficile a trovar hic in Geneva, specialmente appartamentos economic.

Petro: Ma esque vos pote essayar trovar me un?

Chambon: Io va facer omne lo que io pote facer.

Petro: Multe gratias.

Chambon: Vos es confidente que vos non vole iste duo appartamentos plus grande?

Petro: Si, completemente.

Chambon: Multo ben. Io va essayar a adjuvar vos.

Petro: Multissime gratias.

Chambon: Non vos preoccupa. Illo es un placer.

EXERCITIO 4: Rectificationes.

Guida: Il pare que le secretaria de Petro causa problemas irritante pro ille. Io ha le impression que illa volerea esser plus que un secretaria. Ma lo que me interessa es le maniera que Petro ha usate pro parlar de iste error. Que dice un persona post facer errores quando ille parla?

Un homine: Il ha un error.

Un femina: Perdon?

Un homine: Il ha un error

Un femina: Un error?

Un homine: Si. Illo non es le precio ver. Illo es tres mille euros.

Un femina: Tres mille euros? Ma vos me ha dicite duo mille.

Un homine: Si, ma il ha un error. Io crede que io faceva un error.

Un femina: Illo non es duo mile euros?

Un homine: Infelicemente no. Io regretta isto.

Un femina: Ma in vostre littera vos diceva duo mille euros.

Un homine: Si, io lo sape. Le littera diceva duo mille euros. Ma il habeva un manco de communication. Io lo regretta multissimo.

Guida: Io crede que io nunc comprende.

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SCENE 3: Peter is going to Alan Tanner's office. He says he has to find a receptionist/secretary, and he would like to know if Alan could help him with the problem. As for looking for a new apartment, it seems that a certain mysterious person has already solved this problem for Petro.

Petro: Mr. Tanner? Alan?

Tanner: Oh, hello, Petro. Come on in.

Petro: Thanks. Listen, I need your help.

Tanner: Fine. What can I do for you?

Petro: There are two things, to tell the truth.

Tanner: Yes?

Petro: First, we need a secretary/receptionist.

Tanner: Ah, a person who can answer the telephone and write some letters, etc.

Petro: Yes, exactly.

Tanner: A bilingual secretary? A trilingual one?

Petro: Okay, English is the most important. After that comes French. Naturally at times German could be useful.

Tanner: Yes. Do you want a man? A woman?

Petro: That's not at all important, but probably it will be a woman. What we want is a good secretary with good qualifications.

Tanner: Very well. First I'm gonna consult with our personnel service. There's also an agency. And naturaly you could also publish a small classified ad in the papers. But do you want somebody right now?

Petro: Yes, as soon as possible.

Tanner: Very well. What was the second thing?

Petro: The other thing is an apartment for me.

Tanner: But I thought you already had an apartment.

Petro: No. I'm living now in a hotel. I want to find an apartment, and Catherina told me that you could help me with this problem.

Tanner: Yes. We have a housing office, but I believe I saw something indicating that you already have an apartment. Let me call up Chambon. Just a minute. (On the phone) Mr. Chambon, please. Yes? He's not there? Fine. I'm Mr. Tanner. I'm with Mr. Minelli. He needs an apartment and ... yes? Ah, yes, I also thought so. Thanks. Chambon is not in his office, but the woman I talked with said that she's sure that there's an apartment for you. Two apartments, on the same floor. Someone in Strasbourg has arranged for them.

Petro: Someone in Strasbourg?

Tanner: Yeah.

Petro: Two apartments?

Tanner: Yeah. Your associate ...

Petro: Oh, God!

Tanner: Pardon?

Petro: Excuse me. Can I see Mr. Chambon?

Tanner: Yeah. He's gonna return to his office in ten minutes. He's in office four hundred eleven.

Petro: I'm gonna go there to see him.

Tanner: Fine. Soon I'm gonna find a secretary for you.

Petro: Thank you so very much.

Tanner: It's a pleasure.

EXERCISE 3: Polite Questions.

Guide: Let's listen to this friendly conversation.

A man: How's everything?

A woman: Just fine, thanks. And you, how're you doing?

A man: Oh, just fine, thanks. Everything's going okay?

A woman: Yes, thank you. Everything's going fine. How's business?

A man: Oh, not bad. Everything's going the way it usually does. Too much work, never enough money, as always. But how's business for you?

A woman: Oh, okay, I guess. We've got a lot to do at this time of the year. How's your family?

A man: Things are going fine with them. And how's your boss?

A woman: Oh, he's doing okay. He's very worried right now.

Guide: This seems rather easy to me. Petro wanted to clear up the story about his apartment. Let's take a look at the next thing he runs into.

SCENE 4: Geneva, the offices of the holding company: Petro is talking to Mr. Chambon, who has the responsibility for looking for apartments for the personnel of his company. Petro's secretary, Alicia, it seems, made a phone call from Strasbourg and reserved two apartments for him and her, one next to the other. Petro says he that he doesn't want to live next to his secretary and that he wants a small apartment in another building at a certain distance from her.

Petro: Good mornng, Miss.

The secretary: Good morning, sir.

Petro: Can I speak to Mr. Chambon, please? I'm Petro Minelli. Mr. Tanner sent me here.

The secretary: I'm sorry, but Mr. Chambon is not in his office right now. But he probabily will be back very soon.

Petro: Very well. Can I wait for him?

The secretary: Certainly. You can sit down over there if you want. ... Ah, Mr. Chambon has come back. I'm gonna tell him that you are waiting for him.

Petro: Thanks a lot.

The secretary: It's a plesure.

Chambon: You are Mr. Minelli, no doubt.

Petro: Yes, I am.

Chambon: Come (on) in. Excuse me for not being here when you arrived.

Petro: Don't worry about that. I didn't have to wait very long for you.

Chambon: Fine. I suppose that you want to see me about your apartment.

Petro: Exactly.

Chambon: Fine. I believe that I have two suitable apartments for you. They're a little expensive, but you said that that wasn't at all important.

Petro: What?

Chambon: Yes. The rent is eight thousand two hundred seventy Swiss francs. They are two apartments next to each other, and we don't have any immediate need for them.

Petro: How much is that in Euros?

Chambon: Okay ... let's see ... It's eight thousand five hundred euros.

Petro: Eight thousand five hundred euros ... Listen, I think there's a mistake.

Chambon: Oh really?

Petro: You received an order from Strasbourg?

Chambon: Exactly.

Petro: Did you receive a letter from ...

Chambon: No. We received a telex. It was signed by ... wait. I should have it here in this folder. Yes, A. Martini. Alicia Martini.

Petro: Alicia Martini. Yes, I believe that there is a mistake.

Chambon: Oh, really?

Petro: Yes. It seems that my secretary did not understand exactly what I wanted. I need only a rather small place that is not too expensive.

Chambon: Small?

Petro: Yes, very small and very cheap. A rather small studio would be enough for me.

Chambon: Ah, that's gonna be much more difficult to find. Apartments for unmarried people are harder to find here in Geneva, especially cheap apartments.

Petro: But can you try to find me one?

Chambon: I'll do everything that I can do.

Petro: Thanks a lot.

Chambon: You're sure you don't want these two larger apartments?

Petro: Yes, completely.

Chambon: Very well. I'm gonna try to help you out.

Petro: Thank you so much.

Chambon: Don't worry. It's a pleasure.

EXERCISE 4: Corrections.

Guide: It seems that Petro's secretary is causing some irritating problems for him. I have the impression that she would like to be more than a secretary. But what interests me is the method Peter used to correct this mistake. What do people say after making mistakes when they speak?

A man: There's a mistake.

A woman: Excuse me?

A man: There's a mistake.

A woman: A mistake?

A man: Yes. That's not the right price. It's three thousand euros.

A woman: Three thousand euros? But you told me two thousand.

A man: Yes, but there's a mistake. I believe I made a mistake.

A woman: It isn't two thousand euros?

A man: Unfortunately no. I'm sorry about this.

A woman: But in your letter you said two thousand euros.

A man: Yes, I know. The letter said two thousand euros. But there was a lack of communication. I'm very sorry about it.

Guide: I think I now understand.