Radiotelephone Communication

Posted by: Beth D. Subayno

Reference: English for Maritime Students by Rowena D. dela Rosa

URL:  http://www.walkisfree.blogspot.com/

 

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Radiotelephone or radiophone communication take place from ship to ship, ship to shore, land station to land station, mobile station to mobile station, aircraft station to land station, aircraft station to aircraft station, etc.

Generally, communication via radiotelephone encounters a lot of difficulties in reception because varied factors such as static, fading and interference due to noises picked up inside the receiving room or by the transmitter.

To improve intelligibility and accuracy of the message in the receiving end, phonetic alphabet and phonetic numbers are used in transmitting messages.

1. The International Phonetic Alphabet

Letter	Code Word	Letter	Code Word	Letter	Code Word	Letter	Code Word
A	Alpha	H	Hotel	O	Oscar	V	Victory
B	Bravo	I	India	P	Papa	W	Whisky
C	Charlie	J	Juliet	Q	Quebec	X	X-ray
D	Delta	K	Kilo	R	Romeo	Y	Yankee
E	Echo	L	Lima	S	Sierra	Z	Zulu
F	Foxtrot	M	Mike	T	Tango
G	Golf	N	November	U	Uniform

2. The Phonetic Numbers

Figure	Code Word
0	Nadazero
1	Unaone
2	Bissotwo
3	Terrathree
4	Kartefour
5	Pentafive
6	Soxisix
7	Setteseven
8	Oktoeight
9	Novenine
Full Stop	Stop
Decimal Point	Decimal

3. Selected Phrases from the SMCP

In radiotelephone communication messages can sometimes be misconstrued when proper phrases are not used. In the advent of modern communication, a new generation of radio slang has been produced and is becoming common. Although they are easily understood by a native speaker, these words and phrases can be easily misunderstood by a non-native speaker.

1.       Responses

a.      When the response to a question is in the affirmative, say ‘Yes’.

b.      When the response to a question is in the negative, say ‘No’.

c.      When the information is not immediate available but soon will be, say ‘Stand by’.

d.      When the required information cannot be obtained, say ‘No information’.

e.      When a message has not been properly heard, say ‘Say again’.

f.      When a message is not understood, say ‘Message not understood’.

Sometimes, incorrect terms are used in radio communication. Here are some examples:

a.      ‘Affirmative’, ‘Roger’, ‘Wilco’, ‘Right’, instead of ‘Yes’

b.      ‘Negative’, ‘No way’, instead of ‘No’.

c.      ‘Wait’, ‘Wait one’ (meaning ‘wait one minute’), or ‘Hang on’, instead of ‘Stand by’

d.      ‘Don’t know’ instead of ‘No information’

e.      ‘Repeat’ instead of ‘Say again’

2.       Urgent Messages

a.       Mayday – used to prefix distress

Example:

Mayday. Mayday. This is Cassandra. I need help, I am sinking.

b.      Pan – used to prefix urgency

Example:

Pan. Pan. This is Cassandra. I require medical assistance.

c.       Securite – used to prefix safety signals

Example:

Securite. Securite. Floating wreckage in position…

d.      Attention – may be used at the beginning of an important message

Example:

Attention. Attention all ships. A warning of storms was issued at 1400 hours starting…