Understanding Aviation Language

Whether you're an experienced pilot, a rookie, or a co-pilot, it's important to understand the language of aviation. Here's a refresher course on pilot speak, along with some interesting facts from the July/August issue of FAA Safety Briefing.

The language of aviation came about from a need for safety. To avoid pilots and controllers mishearing each other and potentially creating an accident, a language of aviation terms and phrases were compiled in the Pilot/Controller Glossary.

The Aviation Alphabet and Numbers

To help avoid confusion with similar sounding consonants and numbers, in March 1956 the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) adopted a standard phonetic alphabet for aviation use:

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu.

Pilots pronounce numbers similar to regular English, with a few exceptions:

• The number three (3) is pronounced "tree."
• The number five (5) is pronounced "fife."
• The number nine (9) is pronounced "niner."

Common Words and Phrases

Here are some words and phrases you might hear, and what they mean.

Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) - ATIS is recorded information on current weather and airport information, such as runways in use. Each ATIS recording has an alpha-numeric designator to distinguish it from the previous message. For example, "ATIS information Foxtrot is current."

Squawk - Squawk refers to an aircraft's transponder code, which can be either a standard code (1200 for visual flight rules - VFR) or a discrete code assigned by Air Traffic Control. Squawk can be used as a noun (Say your assigned squawk), an adjective (Squawk code is 2345), or as a verb (Squawk 5423).

Mayday - Mayday - meaning emergency - is a word that hopefully you won't ever have to use. The word is derived from the French term "m'aider" meaning help me.

Roger - Why do pilots always say Roger when they're done talking? Its origin is from the early days of aviation when we adapted practices from the telegraph industry. Since Morse code telegraph transmissions could be unreliable, the receiver would transmit a single letter "R" when they successfully received a message, so R came to mean that I have received and understood your transmission.

Our pilot forefathers and mothers needed a similar standard response. As it was not possible to transmit a Morse-coded "R," they adopted the word "Roger," which at the time was the phonetic alphabet version of the letter "R," later changed to "Romeo." Today, it is still the simple acknowledgment that a pilot or controller has received and understood your last transmission.

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Importance of Learning the English Language

English training grants you access to knowledge because English is the main language used in international television networks, which can be watched everywhere around the globe. They broadcast news more professionally. Furthermore, English is the main language used in science. According to studies, over 95% of the articles in science are written using the English language. Out of these articles, only 60% of them were derived from English-speaking countries. Other important reasons for learning the English language include:

Easily communicate with people

Those who are able to communicate using the English language can talk with people from around the world. They can read and take part in discussion groups for opinions and ideas. Furthermore, they can communicate via email, which can go a long way in creating a network of online friends. This in turn helps them discover and learn other cultures. Those who are able to communicate with English can also travel more easily. As they travel, they can communicate with people because English is the official language in more than 100 nations around the world. They can ask for direction and easily engage in a conversation in most countries.

Advance your career

If you want a good job, particularly in science, technology or business it is advisable to refine your English. Even if you already have a job, you can secure further by enrolling for English classes. When you have the knowledge of English, your knowledge can be seen on the CV, getting you a desirable job with a good pay. Furthermore, English is a common language of technology, especially in computer science, medicine and genetics. If you are to read and communicate in the technology world, you will have to have an understanding of English. Moreover, if you want to be an excellent businessperson, a better scientist and put your skills to good use, knowledge of the English language, both verbal and written, is paramount.

Enjoy the entertainment industry

Knowledge of English opens many opportunities in the entertainment industry. Apart from paving way for careers in the industry, it can introduce you to a range of different cultures around the world. You can watch most of the movies that are acted originally in English. As a result, you do not have to rely on cheap copies. Furthermore, most of the famous books have been written in English. Therefore, when you have knowledge of English you will be able to get the ideas and feelings being conveyed without having to rely on a translation, which tends to draw away from the intended meaning. There is also lots of music written in English. When you have knowledge of English you are better placed to understand the lyrics, making the music even better.

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Why Learn Languages?

Why learn languages? Why would anyone want to learn someone else's language? Obviously, there are a lot of reasons, and if the question is on your mind, then you probably have a desire or need to learn a language yourself. The answer is often different for people. Put 10 random people together who are learning another language and you will probably have 7 or 8 different reasons and 5 or 6 different languages. Every answer is valid. Every reason is the right reason for that person and every language is the right language. There is no wrong answer to the question 'why learn a language?' and there is no wrong language to learn.

The ability to learn another language is not limited by economic background, ethnic background, nationality, gender, race, religion, age or the grades you got (or are getting) in school. While everyone is different, and we all have differing abilities and strengths, we all have language ability to some degree. Maybe we all aren't going to become great orators or novelists in another language, but we all have the ability to learn, and communicate in other languages.

There is no danger of learning 'too much.' You can't fill up your head with too much language, and there's no danger of you losing knowledge of the languages you already know. In fact, learning a foreign language (or more than one) improves memory, math skills, analytical skills, problem solving and increases critical thinking and creativity. Furthermore and most remarkably, learning a foreign language actually improves our reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in English.

Languages don't just pop up out of nowhere, they evolve from other languages and change over time. Many of the most widely spoken languages are related and share some vocabulary, and even if they aren't, languages are always borrowing words from each other. English is full of words from many other
languages. Learning another language not only gives you new knowledge, but expands upon your existing knowledge of English and gives you a whole new way of understanding it. Furthermore, you begin to learn how to learn languages, making it easier to learn other languages and understand how language and
communication works in general. Other languages are not just a word for word translation of English, but an interpretation of events and opinions from a different point of view.

So, why learn languages? Ok, so there are some benefits. Can learning a language benefit everyone? In a word - Yes. I'm sure if you look around and evaluate your life you will see lots of opportunities to use different languages. We are all surrounded by people who use other languages, or opportunities we could
benefit from by using other languages. The possibilities are there if you look for them.

You may have relatives living in Japan, or you want to visit China. Perhaps you have a life-long desire to see Italy or you are planning a vacation in Argentina, or retirement in Costa Rica. All are valid reasons for learning a language. Learning for travel is one of the most common reasons to learn a language. There are more opportunities to travel today than there have ever been before, and they are likely to increase in the 21st century Global Village.

Many people learn a language to connect with their roots. You may still have relatives living in the 'old country,' or you may just want to define yourself a little bit. Learning the language of our ancestors can help bring us into better contact with ourselves and open up a whole new understanding of ourselves and how we got to be who and where we are.

Do you have a new addition to the family by marriage? Learning even a little of your new family members language can bring both families closer together. Or maybe you're looking for love yourself. Think of the possibilities when you learn another language. The increase in possible social contacts is tremendous when you add a whole new way to communicate. That goes for love, friendship, travel or business.

Learning a language for business is a very common reason. The business opportunities that have arisen in the last few decades have made it almost imperative for a businessperson to have language skills. English may be spoken by many people and it is the language of the internet, but in order to really cultivate
business relationships and get ahead in the business world, language skills are a must. There are a wide variety of industries in which having language ability is a great advantage. It broadens our job skills and career options.

The reasons for students to learn languages are many, and not just because you need it to graduate or get a certain degree. Obviously, improving English skills and overall communication skills are both valuable to students. Improvement of memory, creativity, problem solving ability and analytical skills also are of significant importance to a student. Studies show that bilinguals routinely outperform monolinguals in all areas of testing. Scores for SATs and other tests are shown to be higher for foreign language students, and the longer the foreign language study the higher the average test scores. Having second language skills also makes a student more competitive in the job market.

Learning a language isn't just learning some new grammar concepts, vocabulary and different sounds. It gives insights into other cultures. It creates a more positive attitude toward people who are culturally different and gives us a better understanding of what it's like to be an immigrant. Accomplishing this life skill will give you increased prestige in your own culture and a markedly increased status in other cultures. It's a required skill to become a World Citizen. Ultimately, learning other languages gives us a better
understanding of our own language and our own culture, and a new viewpoint to look at the world in which we live and define our place in it.

One of my favorite quotes about language by Ambrose Bierce :

Belladonna, n.: In Italian a beautiful lady; in English a deadly poison. A striking example of the essential identity of the two tongues.

It's meant to be funny and it reminds us that languages really are different, but it makes me laugh every time I read it. This, to me, also reminds me why I like to learn languages. It's fun! The inner workings of each language are full of little nuggets that are downright enjoyable to learn. So, why learn languages? Lots of the reasons above pertain to me, but my answer is much simpler - because I enjoy it.

Ron is a long-time language enthusiast, exploring Spanish, French, Swedish, Esperanto and others. Learn more about studying a language on your own at Language Learning Advisor

This guide for self-study language learners has reviews and recommendations of language learning methods and products, links to online learning resources, learning tips to maximize your study time and effectiveness and articles on language learning.

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