TO: ALL ARES OPERATORS IN DISTRICT 3 (OFFICIAL)
ALL AMATEURS IN WEST VIRGINIA (INFORMATION)
FROM: WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED AND WOOD
COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICES (ARES)
ARES DISTRICT 3 BULLETIN NR 07.03 DATE: January 21, 2007
SUBJECT: WHEN IN DOUBT, USE PLAIN LANGUAGE
With all the types of communications today, there are just about as many languages to use with them. It's always been my way of thinking that when in Rome, do as the Romans do. As emergency communicators we may be operating on a variety of communications medias, from Radios to the Internet. These modes would include Amateur Radio, both voice and digital, Public Safety Radio, Military frequencies, and the Internet. It is the responsibility of the communications person to use the language of the media being used. On Amateur Radio, we don't use 10 codes and CB type lingo. On Public safety radios we don't use Amateur Radio lingo such as QRM, QSO, QSY, or Roger, etc. On military frequencies the procedure is pretty will spelled out in training manuals. Amateur Radio Packet Radio, both keyboard-to-keyboard, and Chat Rooms are not the same as the Internet Chat Rooms. Each of them uses their own type of language. The operator on the other end of a Amateur Radio Packet communications may not know all of the shortcuts and lingo used on the Internet, and vice versa. Not knowing if the person on the other end of a communications media knows you language, it’s best to use plain language. If you use some kind of language or lingo they don't understand, then communications time is wasted since it will have to explained, when it would have been better to use plain language in the first place. It might be said that the person on the other end should learn my language, but remember, you may be playing on their play ground, so you should operate using their language, and they should be using your language when playing on your play ground. So remember, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV
ARES Assistant Section Coordinator WV
ARES District Emergency Coordinator WV District 3