Please Hold
Training Guide
Transcriptions of Common Phrases
With Accompanying Audio Files
LANGUAGES INCLUDED IN THIS GUIDE
Arabic | Armenian | Burmese | Cantonese | Croatian | Dutch | Farsi | French
German | Greek | Haitian Creole | Hebrew | Hmong | Italian | Japanese | Khmer
Korean | Laotian | Mandarin | Nepali | Polish | Portuguese | Punjabi | Romanian
Russian | Serbian | Spanish | Somali | Tagalog | Vietnamese
© 2015 LanguageLine Solutions® / All rights reserved. / 08.08.15
Enabling Communication in Any Situation.SM www.LanguageLine.com
Please Hold Training Guide
Page 1 of 7
Please Hold Training Guide
At the request of our clients, we are delighted to present the “Please Hold Training Guide”. You can learn to ask limited English
speakers to “Please Hold” in 30 different languages and to inform them an interpreter will be provided. It also teaches you how to
say the phrase, “Do you speak ________?”, thereby providing you with a quick way to identify the language. This guide is helpful
for individual or classroom training situations. Perfect as training and reference for receptionists, call centers, 911 operators, and
the front desk.
This Guide Includes:
• Helpful training tips
• Script with transcripted phrases
• Pronunciation key
• Audio files of recorded phrases
(as separate WAV files)
We have provided you with each phrase written in English
and in a standardized transcription of the foreign language.
Transcription is a spelling format that allows English
speakers to “read” the foreign words and pronounce
them correctly. We have included a pronunciation key to
assist you in learning which defines how each letter or
letter combination should be pronounced. The phrases
are recorded in their respective languages and supplied as
audio files in WAV format. Use the pronunciation key along
with the script and audio to learn proper pronunciations.
Note: The phrases are transcripted, not translated,
thererfore they are not correctly spelled in the respective
languages. Please do not copy the phrases from the script
to use in written correspondence.
Before Training
In-language training can be done on a one-on-one basis
or in small groups. Before beginning the training process,
review the pronunciation key and listen to the audio files.
Make sure that all the sounds you pronounce are the same
as what you hear. By referring to the pronunciation key,
the transcipted phrases in the script should be easy to
pronounce.
Optimize the Learning Experience
Use both the script and the audio together for maximum
benefits. Here are some tips: “Hlease” Training Kit Guide
• Listen to the audio as you follow the script. Note
anything that will help you reproduce the correct
sounds.
• Read the phrases aloud as you re-listen to the
audio.
• After listening to the audio, attempt to pronounce
the phrases.
• Repeat until the phrases sound close to what is
heard on the audio.
• Record yourself and check your pronunciation
against the audio. It might be helpful to only work
on one language at a time.
Customize Your Training
Three of the phrases are very similar: “please hold”, “please
do not hang up”, and “please hold for an
interpreter.” It may not be necessary to learn all three.
Choose the phrase you would like to use by focusing on
the phrase that is most needed or the one that is easiest to
say.
Create Your Own Support Tool
Once you have learned your selected phrases, customize
your own job aid. Copy the chosen phrases onto an
index card or other easily accessible reference. Keep
your tailored card handy and refer to it whenever you
need to communicate with a limited English speaker. For
example, if Spanish and Japanese are the languages
you need most, the phrases for these languages can be
placed near telephones for easy reference. Or you can
create individualized job aids that include not only the
most commonly requested languages but instructions for
contacting an interpreter as well.
Step-by-Step Training
Follow these simple steps:
• Download both the written guide and audio files.
• Review the pronunciation key.
• Choose the languages you need to learn.
• Listen to the audio while following along with the
script.
• Repeat the phrases until they match the audio.
• Place the script for the languages you need near
phones for on-the-spot help.
• Call LanguageLine Solutions for an interpreter once
you have asked your customer to hold in his or her
own language.
Download Please Hold Guides and Audio Files
To download additional copies of the Please Hold Guide
and audio files, please visit:
http://info.languageline.com/please-hold-guide
© 2015 LanguageLine Solutions® / All rights reserved. / 07.23.15
Enabling Communication in Any Situation.SM www.LanguageLine.com
Please Hold Training Guide
Page 2 of 7
ARABIC
Hello:
mahrHAHbah?
Do you speak Arabic?:
hahl tahtahkahLAHM ahl lughah
ahlahrahBEEah?
Yes:
nahHAHM
Please hold:
min FUDluck dahKEEkah
Please do not hang up:
min FUDluck lah TAKtah ahl khaht
Please hold for an interpreter:
min FUDluck IN-Tahther ahl muTAHRzhim
CANTONESE
Hello:
wai?
Do you speak Cantonese?:
nei gahwng GWAHWNG dahwng wah mah?
Yes:
gahwng
Please hold:
tseng dahng yeh DAHNG
Please do not hang up:
tseng mm HO sao seen
Please hold for an interpreter:
tseng dahng fahnYIHK yun
ARMENIAN
Hello:
helo?
Do you speak Armenian?:
hah EH ren khosuMEK?
Yes:
ahyo
Please hold:
khunTRUmem spahSEK?
Please do not hang up:
khunTRUmem kheraHOsa mee ahnjahDEH
Please hold for an interpreter:
spahSEK tahrkmahNEEchee hahmahr
CROATIAN
Hello:
hahlo?
Do you speak Croatian?:
goboRI telee KHERvahtskee?
Yes:
dah
Please hold:
MOLim vahs osTENeeteh nah VEzee
Please do not hang up:
MOLim vahs neh prekee deiTEH VEzu
Please hold for an interpreter:
MOLim vahs preechekaiTEH tuMAHch
BURMESE
Hello:
mihngahLAHbah
Do you speak Burmese?:
deih yuhMAH lahRAHB YOvah duhLAH
Yes:
yoVAHrei
Please hold:
jezuhbYUH kainTAHbah
Please do not hang up:
JEzuhbyuEI OmahCHAHlaiBAHnei
Please hold for an interpreter:
segebYANdo Uiaen duAT JEzuhbyuEI
kuhNUH kainTAHbah
DUTCH
Hello:
helo?
Do you speak Dutch?:
sprekht u NEderlahns?
Yes:
yah
Please hold:
O khen bleekya ahlstuBLEEFT
Please do not hang up:
neet NEERleh khen ahlstuBLEEFT
Please hold for an interpreter:
O khen bleekya for uhn verTAAler
Please Note: To facilitate learning, we deliberately chose not to provide gender-specific phrasing except where there
is a compelling reason to do so. In most cases the male version appears.
© 2015 LanguageLine Solutions® / All rights reserved. / 07.23.15
Enabling Communication in Any Situation.SM www.LanguageLine.com
Please Hold Training Guide
Page 3 of 7
FARSI
Hello:
sahLAHM
Do you speak Farsi?:
OYo beezahBOnei FAHRsee SOHbahts
mee kuhNEET
Yes:
BAHlei
Please hold:
LUTfahn sahbr kuhNEE
Please do not hang up:
LUTfahn kahts NAkuhnee
Please hold for an interpreter:
lutFAHN montahzeRE motahrJEM buhsheet
GREEK
Hello:
eh BROS?
Do you speak Greek?:
meeLAHteh eh leh neeKAH?
Yes:
neh
Please hold:
pehree MENeh teh pahrahkahLO polee
Please do not hang up:
pahrahkahLO meen KLEE sehteh to ahkusteeKO
Please hold for an interpreter:
pahrahkahLO pehree MENeh the YAH
ton dhiermeeNEAH
FRENCH
Hello:
bonZHUR?
Do you speak French?:
parlei vu franCEI?
Yes:
wee
Please hold:
pah see onTEL, seel vu plei
Please do not hang up:
nuh kee teh PAH, seel vu plei
Please hold for an interpreter:
on enterPRET suhrah ahvu doh KELkuh
zahnstaw, pah see onTEL, seel vu plei
HAITIAN CREOLE
Hello:
ahlo bonZHUR?
Do you speak Creole?:
ESkei u pahrLEI creiYOL?
Yes:
wee
Please hold:
tahn seel vu plei
Please do not hang up:
pahfehMEH teleFON lah seel vu plei
Please hold for an interpreter:
tahn seel vu plei. nu pwahl sheshei yuMUN
kee pahrLEI creeOL
GERMAN
Hello:
hahlo?
Do you speak German?:
SHPREkhen zee doitch?
Yes:
yah
Please hold:
bitte VAHRten zee
Please do not hang up:
bitte LEEGen zee niksht ahwf
Please hold for an interpreter:
bitte VAHRten zee ahwf den DOLmetcher
HEBREW
Hello:
shahLOM ?
Do you speak Hebrew?:
Male: hah eem ahTAH medahBEIR eevREET?
Female: hah eem at medahBEIRet eevREET?
Yes:
ken
Please hold:
nah lei ahmTEEN bevah kahSHAH
Please do not hang up:
nah lei ahmTEEN ahl ahKAHV
Please hold for an interpreter:
nah lei ahmTEEN le metahrGEM
© 2015 LanguageLine Solutions® / All rights reserved. / 07.23.15
Enabling Communication in Any Situation.SM www.LanguageLine.com
Please Hold Training Guide
Page 4 of 7
HMONG
Hello:
niah zhong?
Do you speak Hmong?:
kah pwah hai lu mong?
Yes:
ku hai
Please hold:
tah tah EE pleah
Please do not hang up:
tah jee tsah KU
Please hold for an interpreter:
tah tah du mong tsaiLU
KHMER
Hello:
sok so BAI?
Do you speak Khmer?:
neh nee yei PEEsah kmaiTEI?
Yes:
Male: baht
Female: jah
Please hold:
jah moi plet
Please do not hang up:
som com a dah JO
Please hold for an interpreter:
som jahm NEH bo prai
ITALIAN
Hello:
PRON to?
Do you speak Italian?:
lei PAHRlah eetal YAHno?
Yes:
see
Please hold:
ahTENdah per fahVORei
Please do not hang up:
non ahTAK ee per fahVORei
Please hold for an interpreter:
ahTENdah per un inTERpretei
KOREAN
Hello:
yahbo seiYO?
Do you speak Korean?:
hahn gukMAL ha sheem neeKAH?
Yes:
nei
Please hold:
chahm kahn man geedah reeSEIyo
Please do not hang up:
kun jee MALgo geedah reeSEIyo
Please hold for an interpreter:
tong yog eul geedah reeSEIyo
JAPANESE
Hello:
moshee moshee?
Do you speak Japanese?:
nee HONgo o hahnahSHEE
mahsuKAH?
Yes:
hai
Please hold:
shosho oMAHchee kudahSAI
Please do not hang up:
keeRA zunee oMAHchee kudahSAI
Please hold for an interpreter:
neeHONgo tsuyahKU o oMAHchee kudahSAI
LAOTIAN
Hello:
sah bai DEE?
Do you speak Laotian?:
jao wao lao dai bo?
Yes:
er
Please hold:
kahlu nah TAH buht ning
Please do not hang up:
kaluh nah yah fao wang tuah
Please hold for an interpreter:
kahlu nahTAH nai pahSAH
© 2015 LanguageLine Solutions® / All rights reserved. / 07.23.15
Enabling Communication in Any Situation.SM www.LanguageLine.com
Please Hold Training Guide
Page 5 of 7
MANDARIN
Hello:
wei?
Do you speak Mandarin?:
nin sho go yui MAH?
Yes:
shihr
Please hold:
ching shao dahng
Please do not hang up:
ching pu yao gwah dong tiang hwah
Please hold for an interpreter:
ching deng yuwee fanYEE
NEPALI
Hello:
NAHmah skahr
Do you speak Nepali?:
tahPAI neePAHlee BOLnuhuntsuh
Yes:
ho
Please hold:
krihpahIAAH eiteen PAHRkahnhoz
Please do not hang up:
krihpahIAAH fon nahRAHKnuhahLAH
Please hold for an interpreter:
krihpahIAAH dobahHAHsheeko vevestah
huDEIsah PAHRkahnhoz
POLISH
Hello:
suHAHM?
Do you speak Polish?:
Male: tchee pahn MUvee po POLsku?
Female: tchee PAHni MUvee po POLsku?
Yes:
tak
Please hold:
PROshahm proCHEkahtch
Please do not hang up:
PROshahm nee odkuah DAHCH su HAHF kee
Please hold for an interpreter:
PROshahm proCHEkahtch nah tuMAHchah
PORTUGUESE
Hello:
ahlo?
or
shto?
Do you speak Portuguese?:
FAH lah portuGAISH?
Yes:
sihng
Please hold:
por fahvor ahGWARjee nah LEENyah
Please do not hang up:
nao dizLEEgee por fahvor
Please hold for an interpreter:
eshPERee pur un inTERprechee, por fahvor
PUNJABI
Hello:
HElo
Do you speak Punjabi?:
kee tosee pahnJAHbee BOLdei ho?
Yes:
hah
Please hold:
KIHRpah kahrkei HOLD kahro
Please do not hang up:
KIHRpah kahrkei FOnah rahknao
Please hold for an interpreter:
KIHRpah kahrkei doBAH shailei HOLD kahro
ROMANIAN
Hello:
ahlo?
Do you speak Romanian?:
vor beets romah NESHteh?
Yes:
dah
Please hold:
vaROG ahshtep TAHTS
Please do not hang up:
nu inKEE dets vaROG
Please hold for an interpreter:
vaROG ahshtep TAHTS PENtru un interPRET
© 2015 LanguageLine Solutions® / All rights reserved. / 07.23.15
Enabling Communication in Any Situation.SM www.LanguageLine.com
Please Hold Training Guide
Page 6 of 7
RUSSIAN
Hello:
ahlo?
Do you speak Russian?:
vee gahvahREE tyeh pah RUSkee?
Yes:
dah
Please hold:
PAHdahzh DEEtyeh PAHzhalostah
Please do not hang up:
nee VEshai tyeh TRUBku
Please hold for an interpreter:
pah dahzh DEEtyeh peeree VODcheekah
SOMALI
Hello:
nahbahdhEI
Do you speak Somali?:
mahKU HAHdhahshah sooMAHlee
Yes:
hah
Please hold:
FAHDlahn ku chee KHAHDkah
Please do not hang up:
FAHDlahn teleFONkah hah DIHgihn
Please hold for an interpreter:
FAHDlahn suk TURchuvan
SERBIAN
Hello:
hahlo?
Do you speak Serbian?
goboRI tehlee serpSKEE?
Yes:
dah
Please hold:
MOLim vahs osten EEteh nah VEzee
Please do not hang up:
MOLim vahs neh prekee deiTEH VEzu
Please hold for an interpreter:
MOLim vahs sahchekaiTEH tuMAHchah
TAGALOG
Hello:
helo?
Do you speak Tagalog?:
tahgAH log po bah kahYO?
Yes:
o po
Please hold:
sahndahLEE lang po
Please do not hang up:
huag po nee YONG ee ba BAH ang teLE pono
Please hold for an interpreter:
mahgHEEN tai po kahYO sah inTERpreter
SPANISH
Hello:
olah?
Do you speak Spanish?:
Ahblah Usted espanYOL?
Yes:
see
Please hold:
esPERei un moMENto
Please do not hang up:
por fahVOR no KWELgei
Please hold for an interpreter:
por fahVOR esPERei ah un inTEIRpretei
VIETNAMESE
Hello:
helo?
Do you speak Vietnamese?:
kui vi kah noi ting viet kawng
Yes:
kahah
Please hold:
seen jeh
Please do not hang up:
seen duhng kup mai
Please hold for an interpreter:
seen jeh dhong zihk vien
© 2015 LanguageLine Solutions® / All rights reserved. / 08.08.15
Enabling Communication in Any Situation.SM www.LanguageLine.com
Please Hold Training Guide
Page 7 of 7
Pronunciation Key
Letter(s) Example
Letter(s) Example
a ah
ai ao aw b ch d dh e ee ei er f g h ia ih j k hat
tall
buy
now
shawl
but
chain
den
then
pet
bee
bay
were
full
game
hat
yaw
bit
Jane
can
kh l m n ng o oi p r s sh t th u uh v w y z zh Bach
like
man
not
long
boat
boy
put
run
some
shoe
ten
thin
boot
cut
very
went
yes
zoo
measure
Please note: “Doubled” letters (such as “ee”) are said for a lengthened amount of time.
Syllables in all capital letters are stressed
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR LANGUAGE ACCESS SOLUTIONS:
•
Over-the-phone, video remote, and onsite interpreting
•
Translation and localization
•
Testing and training of bilingual and interpreter staff
Contact your Account Executive or LanguageLine Solutions at [email protected] | 1-800-752-6096
And, learn more about language access, subscribe to our blog: blog.languageline.com
© 2015 LanguageLine Solutions® / All rights reserved. / 07.23.15
Enabling Communication in Any Situation.SM www.LanguageLine.com