The Voicemail: Reconstructing an Appointment from Corrections
A tenant listens once to a voicemail from the building manager and must note the details. The recorded message, transcribed as heard, includes hesitations: 'Hi, it's Marco, about the, uh, inspection. I was thinking Thursday, but the plumber's coming Thursday, so let's make it Wednesday at ten-fifteen - no, ten-fifty, sorry. And bring the key for the back gate, the small one, not the deadbolt. The super will meet you by the side entrance, not the lobby, because the lobby floor is being waxed. If that's a problem, call me back before six.' The tenant cannot replay the message. She must decide what time to arrive, which key to bring, and where to meet the super. She also wants to know whether Marco is annoyed, because his tone sounds rushed.
1. What time should the tenant arrive, which key should she bring, and where should she meet the super? Explain how the corrections in the message affect your answer.
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Arrive at 10:50 on Wednesday. Bring the small key for the back gate, not the deadbolt key. Meet the super at the side entrance, not the lobby.
The speaker first says Thursday, then corrects because the plumber is coming Thursday, so Wednesday is the final day. He says 'ten-fifteen - no, ten-fifty, sorry'; the second number is the repair. The key instruction uses a contrast: 'the small one, not the deadbolt.' The meeting place is also corrected: 'by the side entrance, not the lobby,' with a reason (floor waxing). In each case, the later item replaces the earlier one, and the reason confirms the correction. A listener who notes only the first number or the first location will be wrong. The tenant should treat the final stated value as operative unless the speaker reopens it.
2. Does Marco sound annoyed? Cite specific cues and explain why a rushed tone alone is weak evidence.
Read the worked answer
He does not sound annoyed. The cues point to haste and disorganization: hesitations ('the, uh, inspection'), self-corrections, and a practical reason for each change. He gives the tenant an alternative-'If that's a problem, call me back before six'-which is accommodating rather than dismissive.
A rushed tone can signal impatience, but it can also signal a speaker with limited time. The content matters more than the pace. There is no criticism of the tenant, no sigh, no sharp phrase. The self-correction 'sorry' after the time is a small politeness marker. A listener should not infer hostility from speed alone; the message includes a reason for the change and a channel for objection. If the tenant is unsure, calling before six is the appropriate response, not assuming bad temper.