
Your container from Hong Kong finally gets here. You search for your TV and plug it into the outlet. Much to your disappointment, you are only able to get a few channels. Your friend tells you that in order to get a full range of channels, you must apply to your local Cable TV company.
A: Good morning, Cablevision. May I help you?
B: I'd like to have cable TV installed, please.
A: What's your address?
B: It's 525 Bell Street.
A: May I have your name?
B: It's Mrs Chan. C-H-A-N Chan.
A: Mrs Chan, we can send someone over to connect your cable TV tomorrow. There will be a small charge of $45 including tax for the connection.
B: What other charges are there?
A: There is a monthly charge of $16 for the basic cable; pay TV is extra.
B: Basic cable is OK for now. How do I pay for it?
A: We can bill you monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.
B: Bill me monthly, please.
A: OK, we'll do that. Thank you for calling Cablevision.
你的貨櫃終於由香港運到了。你找出電視機,插上電源。但你很失望,因為只能接收到幾個電視台。朋友告訴你若要收到所有的頻道,便要向當地的有線電視公司申請。
甲:早上好﹗有線電視。有什麼可以為你效勞嗎?
乙:我想安裝有線電視。
甲:你的住址在哪裏呢?
乙:貝街525號。
甲:請問貴姓呢?
乙:我是陳太太,C-H-A-N。
甲:陳太太,我們可以明天派人到來接駁有線電視。我們會收一點安裝費,連稅共四十五元。
乙:還有其他的費用嗎?
甲:基本有線電視服務月租十六元。其他收費的電視服務另計。
乙:基本有線電視暫時已可以了。我怎樣付款呢?
甲:我們可以每個月、每季、半年或每年向你收費。
乙:就每個月寄賬單給我吧,謝謝﹗
甲:好的,我們會照辦,多謝你打電話來有線電視。
Language Notes 語文註解
(1) Have cable TV installed——這句嚴格的譯法是“找人安裝有線電視。英文中的Do something和Have something done有一點分別。前者是自己動手做,後者是找人做。
(2) May I have your name?=What is your name?但語氣比較客氣。
(3) It's Mrs. Chan——我是陳太太。電話裏用英文自我介紹時所用的片語是It is或者This is,不是I am,請讀者留意。
(4) Connect——接通或接駁。
(5) Charge——此處指收費。
(6) Basic cable——指基本的有線電視服務。
(7) Pay TV——有些專提供特定範圍節目的電視服務(例如體育、新聞評論等),需另收費。
(8) Bill you——向你收取費用。
(9) Quarterly——每三個月或每季。
(10) Semi-annually——每半年。
(11) Annually——每年。
(12) Thank you for calling——多謝你打電話來。是結束談話時常用的客氣語。