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tcm

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Re: not so

Deleted User is quite right. We are innately sure of ourselves. By contrast, claymore is wrong. Altho they don't wear bells, the whole world dances to an English tune:


If you speak on a VHF radio whilst controlling an ocean-going ship or an international airplane, you speak English.

If you live in the USA, Aus, Scotland, Wales or many other countries, your national language is English.

If, when discussing your child's academic progress in any country that does not have English as its national language, "S/he's doing well" means "S/he is doing well in terms of ability to speak English"

If you plan to set up an army, navy, or air force, it's modelled on the British Army even down to the titles of various ranks.

If you write a computer program, you speak English.

Wherever you are in the world, your position is given using a longitude relative to the Greenwich Meridian in London. The local time is also calculated as relative to the local time in London. Not New York, washington, Paris or anywhere else.
 
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Deleted User YDKXO

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Re: The essence of Englishness

I seem to remember that the empire was built mostly using cannon fodder from north of the border
 

tcm

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report from capital of world

Down here it is blimmin sunny, so we all in bad humour and trying to devise schemes for going boating. My wife has also bought loads of shoes, which are things that we put on our feet to alleviate the heat of the golden pavements.
 

BarryD

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Re: not so - sort of true Joke

A German first officer was sitting in his little Fokker Friendship (type of plane) at Hamburg when he called the tower for clearance - in German. Hamburg tower ignored him. He repeated his request, again in German. Finally the tower responded and advised him to make his request in English if he wanted clearance to be granted.

"Why?" he demanded. "I am German, in a German aircraft, at a German airfield, in Germany, why do I have to make my request in English?"

"Cos you silly buggers lost the war" said an English voice over the airwaves...

Through difficulties to the bar (IMHO / FWIW / NWGOI)
 

BarryD

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Re: chicago convention

Well done TCM, applied learning, bet you helped SWMBO pas her air law <G>, the 1948 ruling said that English was the language of the air. Also as you said ZERO meridian runs through Greenwich so all times are based on that, except in Russia where the ZERO meridain runs through Moscow but all Int. flights still use ZULU so the ATC in Russia is really screwed up.

Through difficulties to the bar (IMHO / FWIW / NWGOI)
 

wakeup

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Re: chicago convention

TCM you are right but take it from me when flying in France to anything other than major airports the Frech use Frech over the VHF and get very huffy if you call them up in English!!
 

ccscott49

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Re: chicago convention

Because they are bloody french! They actually really hate having to use English in the oilfield aswell, it really pisses them off! I love it!!!
 

wakeup

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Re: not so - sort of true Joke

BarryD,

The story I liked that I've heard amonst my flying friends it that apparently during the sixties a BA pilot was flying into Hamburg and upon landing he was given taxi instructions by the ATC. He asked for clairifaction of the taxi instructions as they weren't clear. The ATC got huffy and said "Haven't you been to Hamburg before?" he replied "Yes I have, but the last time I was here it was at 10,000ft and I only stayed to open the bombay doors".

Probably a flying myth but a good one.
 

ccscott49

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Re: not so - sort of true Joke

Now ! I didn't mention francophile did I and it's them that hates us, I love the french.....women......wine........foie gras.......oysters (mind you loch fyne are better) and a few other things, its their xenophobia and arrogance I don't like.
 

ccscott49

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Re: not so - sort of true Joke

I know, I know! I'm a beast, but it tastes so good, I cry everytime I eat it and beat myself with palm fronds, Oh! the shame of it! Same with the women!
 
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