How many times does the man say “Lah？” It's never needed.
Nora is checking Jane's schedule with her but Jane is feeling rather sick.
Nora： Jane, next Tuesday you have a meeting with the people from Hotel Boat Quay.
Jane： Hmmm？
Nora： The meeting with the Hotel Boat Quay？ It will be at 2 o'clock at there…… Are you OK？
Jane： Yes, yes. I'm fine. It's just the heat here in Singapore. You were saying？
Nora： The meeting with the Hotel Boat Quay？
Jane： That's right. Next Thursday.
Nora： Tuesday. Are you sure you are all right？
Jane： Yes. I'm just having an off day.
Nora： Then why are you here？
Jane： I'm just a bit tired. Having an off day.
Nora： Then why are you here？
Jane： It's nothing.
Nora： You should go to the doctor and get an MC.
Jane： What's that？ Some kind of pick-me-up？
Nora： No. An MC. Medical Certificate.
Jane： Oh. Sorry. I wish people wouldn't use abbreviations. I don't understand them.
Nora： （a little hurt） Sorry.
Jane： OK. Can you confirm that meeting with Hotel Boat Quay again a.s.a.p.
Nora： （slightly sarcastically） I wish people wouldn't use abbreviations. I don't understand them.
Jane： Gosh. Sorry. Maybe I am sick. Look Nora, some abbreviations are international, like a.s.a.p., c.c. or RSVP. Here in Singapore you have so many. PIE, MRT, CTE, PSB. Half the time I don't know what people are talking about.
Nora： So what should I do？
Jane： Just avoid them or explain them. That's all. I'm sorry if I was snappy. I am feeling a little off-colour.
Nora： So when you say, “I am having an off day,” you mean you are not feeling well？
Jane： Yes.
Nora： In Singapore an off day means a holiday.
Jane： Ah！ OK. What about this meeting we are going to？
Nora： I am not going. I'm on off day next Tuesday.
Jane： Which means？
Nora： I'm having a holiday next Tuesday. I have to see the doctor about the baby.
Jane： Not long now！
Nora： I hope they won't ward me early this time.
Narrator： Here in Singapore we use a lot of phrases and abbreviations that are uncommon in the rest of the world. When we say “off-day,” we mean that we will not go into work. What we should say is that we are going to have a day off. In good English, an off-day means that you are not feeling 100% well.
Also, we use lots and lots of abbreviations and acronyms. What happens, though, is that a lot of people don't know what they mean. It's better to explain them or use the full term. So instead of saying O.T., we should say overtime, and say identity card instead of I.C.
It's better to be safe and clear and use the whole term to avoid confusion.
Nora is checking Jane's schedule with her but Jane is feeling rather sick.
Nora： Jane, next Tuesday you have a meeting with the people from Hotel Boat Quay.
Jane： Hmmm？
Nora： The meeting with the Hotel Boat Quay？ It will be at 2 o'clock at there…… Are you OK？
Jane： Yes, yes. I'm fine. It's just the heat here in Singapore. You were saying？
Nora： The meeting with the Hotel Boat Quay？
Jane： That's right. Next Thursday.
Nora： Tuesday. Are you sure you are all right？
Jane： Yes. I'm just having an off day.
Nora： Then why are you here？
Jane： I'm just a bit tired. Having an off day.
Nora： Then why are you here？
Jane： It's nothing.
Nora： You should go to the doctor and get an MC.
Jane： What's that？ Some kind of pick-me-up？
Nora： No. An MC. Medical Certificate.
Jane： Oh. Sorry. I wish people wouldn't use abbreviations. I don't understand them.
Nora： （a little hurt） Sorry.
Jane： OK. Can you confirm that meeting with Hotel Boat Quay again a.s.a.p.
Nora： （slightly sarcastically） I wish people wouldn't use abbreviations. I don't understand them.
Jane： Gosh. Sorry. Maybe I am sick. Look Nora, some abbreviations are international, like a.s.a.p., c.c. or RSVP. Here in Singapore you have so many. PIE, MRT, CTE, PSB. Half the time I don't know what people are talking about.
Nora： So what should I do？
Jane： Just avoid them or explain them. That's all. I'm sorry if I was snappy. I am feeling a little off-colour.
Nora： So when you say, “I am having an off day,” you mean you are not feeling well？
Jane： Yes.
Nora： In Singapore an off day means a holiday.
Jane： Ah！ OK. What about this meeting we are going to？
Nora： I am not going. I'm on off day next Tuesday.
Jane： Which means？
Nora： I'm having a holiday next Tuesday. I have to see the doctor about the baby.
Jane： Not long now！
Nora： I hope they won't ward me early this time.
Narrator： Here in Singapore we use a lot of phrases and abbreviations that are uncommon in the rest of the world. When we say “off-day,” we mean that we will not go into work. What we should say is that we are going to have a day off. In good English, an off-day means that you are not feeling 100% well.
Also, we use lots and lots of abbreviations and acronyms. What happens, though, is that a lot of people don't know what they mean. It's better to explain them or use the full term. So instead of saying O.T., we should say overtime, and say identity card instead of I.C.
It's better to be safe and clear and use the whole term to avoid confusion.