Why French feels harder on the phone: make the missing clues explicit

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Compare French at a desk and on the phone. Practise clear document references, a repeat after the line cuts out and a final check of an appointment.

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In short

On the phone, you lose pointing, visible objects and some clues about whose turn it is. A weak connection can also hide a sound. Make references explicit: replace ici with dans le deuxième paragraphe and ask for the particular name or time you missed.

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Why is French harder to understand on the phone?

Cette ligne, ici.This line here.

Focus: At the desk, a finger identifies the line.

Vous signez ici, sur cette ligne.
You sign here, on this line.

La ligne sous votre adresse.The line below your address.

Focus: On the phone, the location needs words.

Sur la première page, vous signez sur la ligne sous votre adresse.
On the first page, sign on the line below your address.

You can hear every word in vous signez ici and still have no idea where to sign. Ask which page or heading the speaker means. A shared document helps when you both have the same version open.

The objects behind the call

A call with two focused repairs

Vérifier le formulaire et le rendez-vous
  1. Agent

    Vous signez ici, puis vous apportez le formulaire au rendez-vous.

    You sign here, then bring the form to the appointment.

  2. Vous

    J’ai le formulaire devant moi. Vous parlez de quelle page ?

    I have the form in front of me. Which page do you mean?

  3. Agent

    De la première page, sur la ligne sous votre adresse.

    The first page, on the line below your address.

  4. Vous

    D’accord. Et le rendez-vous est à quelle heure ?

    All right. And what time is the appointment?

  5. Agent

    Jeudi, à dix heures quarante-cinq.

    Thursday, at ten forty-five.

  6. Vous

    Ça a coupé pendant que vous donniez l’heure. Vous pouvez la répéter ?

    The line cut out while you were giving the time. Could you repeat it?

  7. Agent

    Dix heures quarante-cinq, jeudi.

    Ten forty-five, on Thursday.

  8. Vous

    Donc, jeudi à dix heures quarante-cinq, avec le formulaire signé ?

    So Thursday at ten forty-five, with the signed form?

  9. Agent

    Oui, c’est bien ça.

    Yes, that’s right.

Match the repair to the problem
ProblemUseful question
Reference: you heard the words but cannot locate the line.Vous parlez de quelle page ?
Sound: the line cut out during the time.Vous pouvez répéter l’heure ?
Spelling: the name remains unclear.Vous pouvez épeler votre nom ?
Outcome: check the agreed time and action.Donc, jeudi, avec le formulaire signé ?
Question 1No account needed
You hear every word of vous signez ici but cannot find the line. What is missing?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

A clear location on the document.. Ici depends on a shared reference; a page and line description resolve it.

Question 2No account needed
Which detail does the caller request after the line cuts out?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The time.. The caller says the interruption happened during the time and asks for it again.

Question 3No account needed
What confirms the final arrangement?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The agent’s reply to the final read-back.. The final oui, c’est bien ça accepts the time and the signed-form requirement.

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