AboutRoy Helge Rasmussen Expertise I live in the southern part of norway and can find my way around most of the country. I will answer questions about social life, culture, language and politics to the best of my knowledge. I am not so good at travel tips outside the south-eastern parts, although I will try to answer.
Experience I live here and have been guiding members of my family around when they visit from abroad for years.
Question I have to make a business call to a man called Kjell who lives in Grimstad. Firstly, how do I pronounce his name? Is it also fair to assume he will speak English and what level of etiquette will he expect?
Answer Honestly, I have never heard an english speaker pronounce the name Kjell correctly without years of practice. The first fricative is quite difficult to get right. But you would probably be mostly understood if you use the following two pronounciations:
Kyell or Chell
The first of the two is closer to a literal interpretation and is what we expect english speakers to use. The second is slightly more like the proper pronounciation, although the first sound in this version is also completely wrong.
What level of etiquette needed is all up to the business you are in contact with. You can safely assume that anyone picking up the phone is rather proficient in english, but stay clear of colloquialisms and speak in full sentences. After all, the people you are talking to have all learned international english, not english-english or american.
No need to use much honorifics and standard phrases. State your full name and where you are calling from. Then ask to speak to ... with full name unless it is allready obvious who it is you are talking to.
