Un toquis

11:32 Feb 9, 2018 

I was going to suggest Julia post "talkie" but too late, the question's closed!

14:35 Feb 8, 2018 

Ok further context does help!

13:45 Feb 8, 2018 

It was a massive garden, and everyone had walkies talkies, it fits in so well with everything else.....

12:30 Feb 8, 2018 

I agree with @ph-b, also I have never heard a gardener suggesting a "talkie" for his labourers either...
A pity you can't attach a snippet in mp4 format.

12:26 Feb 8, 2018 

I wouldn't say that 'talkie' on its own is usual in spoken French - don't think I've ever heard it. But what else could it be here and as a matter of fact, this is the first thing that came to my native speaker's mind when I read the question, even before I saw the discussion. I suppose that it's just the way this particular gardener talks (and walks...!)

11:57 Feb 8, 2018 

Thank you so much! I'm convinced that it's talkie!

11:50 Feb 8, 2018 

https://fr.wiktionary.org/wiki/talkie gives "talkie" as a synonym for "talkie-walkie".

11:29 Feb 8, 2018 

The man just asks whether he should give the labourers a "talkie/toquis" a few times, and then he leaves the shot, presumably to sort that out.

11:27 Feb 8, 2018 

That might be it! Thank you! Is it common to say "talkie" without adding the "walkie"?
They most definitely do not say "walkie", either before or afterwards. They speak very clearly, and they say it many times. Each time they just say "talkie/toquis"

10:50 Feb 8, 2018 

Snap! I posted without refreshing the screen I guess...;-)

10:49 Feb 8, 2018 

This would make sense ("Avec talkie-walkie, le maitre d'œuvre peut communiquer ses instructions aux ouvriers à l'autre bout du chantier sans avoir à crier ou se déplacer") and the sound is right - but does it sound like he says "walkie" afterwards??

10:22 Feb 8, 2018 

"talkie" as in "talkie-walkie" = walkie-talkie = give them a call on the radio. Would help to know what the man does next.