Punjabi/Conversation/DrawingAttention
ਧਿਆਨ ਖਿਚਣਾਂ - Drawing attention
[edit | edit source]When you want to get attention of someone who is busy with herself or is engaged in conversation with someone else you need to interrupt with politeness. We give below some specimens of how you do it.
When someone is busy with herself
[edit | edit source]Ms. Kamala, the secretary to Mrs. Roopa, the office manager wants to deliver her a report she has received from the field officer. Mrs. Roopa is busy at her desk with some office reports. Kamala draws her attention in a formal manner with
- Kamala : Excuse me madam.
- Mrs. Roopa : Yes, Kamala?
- Kamala : The field officer's report has been received.
- Mrs. Roopa : Thanks, let me see it later.
Kamala wants to draw Mrs. Roopa's attention who is busy with herself. She interrupts Mrs. Roopa with a very formal ਮੁਆਫ ਕਰਨਾ ਸ਼੍ਰੀਮਤੀ ਜੀ। A less formal interruption would be ਮੁਆਫ ਕਰਨਾ ਜੀ whereas in an informal conversation ਮੁਆਫ ਕਰਨਾ should be enough.
When you join in an ongoing conversation
[edit | edit source]Mrs. Roopa, the office manager and Saroop Singh, the field officer are engaged in a discussion in the former's office. Kamala, the secretary to Mrs. Roopa enters her office. She interrupts the conversation politely, like this
- Kamala : Excuse me, can I come in?
- Mrs. Roopa : Yes Kamala, what is the matter?
- Kamala : You wanted to give me some dictation.
- Saroop Singh : Okay, I will come later.
- Kamala and Mrs. Roopa : Thanks.
Kamala reports to her superior as she had previous instructions to take dictation from her superior. The boss is engaged in discussion with her colleague Saroop Singh. Kamala interrupts the conversation with a polite and formal ਮੁਆਫ ਕਰਨਾ ਜੀ। Here Kamala is seeking to catch attention and does so by saying ਮੁਆਫ ਕਰਨਾ ਜੀ, the rest of the sentence serves to seek permission for her entry into the room.
Interrupting a person speaking to you or in a group
[edit | edit source]When you are talking to someone or participating in a discussion amongst a group of people and a person is speaking, you may interrupt the speaker to make a point by feeling sorry for interruption like this
- Saroop Singh : Inflation has gone very high now a days.
- Kamala : Yes, it has become difficult to make both ends meet.
- Mrs. Roopa : I am sorry I am interrupting you but the salaries have also gone up handsomely.
- Kamala and Saroop Singh : Yes, of course that is correct.
Now sample this where Saroop Singh and Mrs. Roopa are talking to each other and Saroop Singh is delivering a long harangue. Mrs. Roopa politely interrupts him
- Saroop Singh : Inflation has gone very high now a days. It has become difficult to make both ends meet. Salary is grossly insufficient.
- Mrs. Roopa : I am sorry I am interrupting you but the salaries have also gone up handsomely.