Preceding an explanation with a question.

Question

I live in Colombia and thus am exposed to Colombian Spanish. Of the many (cultural) oddities that I find here, with regards to language and how people communicate (such as when you answer the phone and say something like 'Hello this is Dave' or 'Good morning Dave's Bar', the caller simply says 'Hello', apparently expecting you to say something else even though communication has been established and the time is right for them to get on with what they want to say but instead simply say 'hello' and thus you say 'Yes hello' to which they reply 'Yes hello' and this goes round and round a few times until I say, somewhat brusquely 'What do you want!'), one that stands out is that is it normal to ask a (n absolutely redundant) question before the speaker proceeds with an explanation.

¿De qué trata el concepto? El concepto trata de...

¿Qué es la idea con este? La idea es...

¿Qué es la manera de que vamos a superar este? Lo que vamos a hacer es...

In me this rouses non-existent memories of a primary school teacher talking to a bunch of 5 year olds. 'So, what are we going to do today children? Let's go outside and play in the sandpit.

Does anyone know what this is all aboot, where it might come from culturally-wise? (Where it comes from culturally-wise is...)

Also, is this common in the Spanish-speaking world, or restricted to certain geographies?

Bizarre! I don't know the answer, obviously, but I enjoyed hearing about your experience(s). - Findy, Apr 17, 2013

Answer 1

I have lived and worked in Latin America. The phone courtesy you describe is not typical of big corporations, where employees are expected to answer "Buenos días or buenas tardes followed by the name of the company" when calling the general number. If calling a direct number, employees are supposed to answer with Buenos días/Buenas tardes and their name. Small businesses in Latin America are yet to learn proper phone etiquette.

As far as answering the phone at home, a simple hello is also customary in the US. What really bothers me is when the caller asks the person receiving the call "Who is this?" To which I normally answer (here in the US or anywhere else I happen to be). Who are you? Identify yourself first since you are calling me.

Last, this habit of dancing around words or beating around the bush before getting to the point in Spanish and other Latin-derived cultures (French, Italian, Portuguese) in my opinion, is purely cultural. Try asking a yes/no question in Latin America, and see the long answer you'll get. I once asked a man for the time in Italy and his reply took more than 5 minutes. I finally thanked him and told him I really had to go.

Worse still, it's not a simple 'who is this?', it's normally a '¿Con quién tengo el gusto de hablar? This is especially annoying when it's an unsolicited called which is a pleasure for neither the caller nor the callee! - afowen, Apr 17, 2013

Answer 2

I think they are expecting you to answer the phone with a "¿Quién habla?"

I don't think that's the norm here, in fact, the other half of the time people demand to know who you are without first introducing themselves... - afowen, Apr 17, 2013

I second that motion, afowen - francobollo, Apr 18, 2013

Answer 3

Franco said:

What really bothers me is when the caller asks the person receiving the call "Who is this?" To which I normally answer (here in the US or anywhere else I happen to be). Who are you? Identify yourself first since you are calling me.

Y E S! I always respond with, "Hey, you called me...who are you?"

Answer 4

First of all, if you answer the phone, you want to know who is calling before you give any names or whatever, and depending of who's calling then you can continue talking.

Try it.

Answer 5

Correct.

"proper phone etiquette" patterned to that of an American Business.