By Carmen Maldonado
An alternative to language interpretation or bilingual outsourcing for simple and basic communications is to handle it in-house. Carmen Maldonado of A-1 Answering Service
in Las Vegas, Nevada has entered a mini English to Spanish dictionary into a directory in their Amtelco Infinity system. The directory is indexed by the English word or phrase, with the Spanish equivalent spelled out phonetically. All the agents need to do is simply read the phonetic spellings to be well understood. Maldonado indicates that the listing is useful in assisting agents with limited Spanish abilities, as well as staff who know no Spanish.
English Spanish
Air conditioning Ay-Rea-Cone-Dee-Sha-Na-Doe
An hour Oo-Na Or-Ra
Apartment number please Sue Apart-Ta-Mentay Numbero Pour Fa-Vore
Bathroom Ser-Vee-See-Oh or Bon-Yo
Daughter Ee-Ha
Do you speak English? Habla Oo-Sted Ing-Gles
Eight Oh-Cho
Everyday To-Dos Los Dias
Father Pa-Dray
Five Sinko
Four Quatro
Friday Vee-Air-Ness
Goodbye Odd-Ee-Ose
He’s/She’s not in No Es-Ton
Hello Bueno
How can I help you? En Kay Lay Pway-Doe You-Dar
How old are you? Quan-Toes On-Nose Tee-Nay Oos-Ted
I don’t know No Say
I don’t understand No En-Tee-En-Doe
Is this an emergency? Es-ToeEs Oona E-Mer-Hen-See-Ya?
Is your unit working at this time? Su Unidad Esta Trabahondo En Este Tiempo
Monday Loon-Is
Mother Ma-Dray
Nine New-Ev-Ay
No No
Office is closed La Off-Is-Seena Sir-Otto
One Oo-No
Open Ah-Bee-Air-Toe
Please Pour Fa-Vore
Please repeat it Re-Pee-Tay-Low Pour Fa-Vore
Please speak more slowly Habla Oos-Ted Mas Des-Pa-See-O
Repeat it please Re-Pee-Tay-Low Pour Fa-Vore
Saturday Sa-Ba-Doe
Seven See-Et-Tay
Shower Doo-Cha
Six Says
Someone will contact you All-Gain Lay Entrara En Contacto Cone
Son Ee-Ho
Speak more slowly please Ablay Mass Des Pass Ee-O Pour Fa-Vore
Sunday Domingo
Telephone number please Sue Noom-Bay-Rose Telephono Pour Fa-Vore
Ten Dee-Ez
Thank you very much Moo-Chas Gra-See-Yas
The line is busy La Lee-Nya Esta Oh-Koo-Pa-Da
This doesn’t work Es-To No Foon-See-Oh-Na
Three Trace
Thursday Way-Vez
Tuesday Mar-Tess
Two Dose
Wednesday Me-Air-Ko-Less
What is her name? Ko-Mo Se Yama Aye-Ya
What is his name? Ko-Mo Se Ya-Ma El
What is the name of the street? Kwal Es El Nom-Bre De Ki-Yay
What is your address? Sue Dee-Wreck-See-Own Ess
What is your daytime
telephone number? Cual Es Su Mumero De Telefono Del Dia
What is your last name? Kay Ess Sue Apay-Yee-Doe
What is your name? Ko-Mo Say Ya-Ma?
What’s the matter? Kay Lay Mo-Les-Ta
Where are you staying? Don-De-Se Per-Ma-Nessay Oos-Ted
Where do you live? Don-De-Vee-VeOos-Ted
Yes See
Yes, a little See, Oon Po-Kee-Toe
You’re welcome De Na-Da
[From Connection Magazine – June 2003]