nautical language rant

[Minnewaska]

I don't get too hung up internet posts, but do think there is value to many nautical words that should be used to communicate aboard. Starboard, Port, Aft, etc are much better than left and right, as the latter is relative. For things that don't have landbased names, such at the halyard, or jib sheet, these are necessary to communicate as well.

However, while I use them so that I appear properly salty, there is zero value to Galley over Kitchen, Salon over Livingroom, Head over bathroom, Berth over bedroom or bed. Everyone knows what you're talking about. Snobbery really and I'm fully guilty.

[MedSailor]

Originally Posted by SloopJonB

AFAIK the longest word, period, is a place name in Wales - it has about 60 letters in it and my sister could pronounce the whole damn thing!

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysilio gogogoch

I've been there. The name begets lots of tourists and gift shops.

MedSailor

[tomandchris]

Wait a minute! On that 54DS you do have a living room, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a bedroom. Beautiful boat by the way!
On some peoples boats it is really confusing because they are all the same space.

[scratchee]

If you don't like it you can get into aviation and do some hanger flying.

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by smurphny

I would like to be able to comment on blatant, third grade misuse of grammar for the benefit of the poster who uses something like "irregardless" but do not because I don't want to embarrass anyone. (I once had a principal who used this word on a regular basis as the staff rolled their eyes and never let on. I made sure, on an observation day, that the lesson was about the word "irregardless.":-)

I'll rant too...


You mean like Presidents of countries who have their finger on the big red button and still call it Nuk-U-Lur.. The word is Nu-cle-ar.... There should be an amendment that mandates a President of a country with Nu-cle-ar power has to pronounce the word correctly.....

Another word that really gets under my skin is, probly or prolly. Prolly is not a word and makes one sound dumber than a pound of gator dung. Sadly I know Harvard grads who use it regularly.....

Real-A-Tor is another one that dives me nuts. It is REAL-TOR there is no extra "A" in that word...

Exscape or expecially or expresso they are escape, especially and espresso there is no X in there.

Supposebly vs. supposedly..

Not fedral it's federal...

To aks a question is not the same as to ask a question....

It is a MOOT point not a MUTE point....

We were "keeling over"............. You mean heeling over?

The boat was floundering.. Actually flounder is a fish, it was foundering.....

RPM's I see this every day on forums. It is revolutions per minute not revolutions per minutes. RPM not RPM's is the correct use....



I am far from a great speller and not very careful with my grammatical use on forums but if I catch the mistakes I do try and change them...

[SHNOOL]

Well, teaching newbies nauti-speak, usually starts with:
Please tighten the blue and white fleck line, that's the cunningham, or
Please wrap the orange and white halyard around the black winch. Use the HANDLE for the winch to crank on it (I'll tail by pulling while you winch). After a few times it becomes "You winch I'll tail."

Please teach, while using the proper terms, both HERE, and on the water, and it'll likely increase proper terminologies usage.

[dacap06]

As do many others here, I enjoy mastering language, using it effectively, and, especially, reading well written prose. It is a particular pleasure in a marine forum to see salty terminology employed as it was intended. Poorly written language bothers me too (apparently not as much as it does jsnaulty) but I don't think my interest in language or my hang-ups about its use entitle me to make another feel ignorant, stupid, or small. Therefore, I follow a live and let live philosophy.

I believe that leading by example is the most effective education. Secretly, (well, not so secretly now) I hope that others will notice the effort I put into my writing and might even pick out a technique or word for their own writing toolkit (doubtless after a short detour to their dictionary or Strunk and White). Those who notice and care might emulate it, just as I do with others who write well.

Those who don't care will carry on as they always have. That's OK. The heart of writing is accurate and complete communication. Beauty is merely a nicety.

Regards,

Tom

[chrisncate]

Just follow 5/7/5 on your haiku, and I'm happy...

[dacap06]

Originally Posted by sawingknots

if you went back to the 18th century would any of us understand the lingo?

Yes.

[PorFin]

Talk about poking a wasp nest with a short stick...

For me, it all boils down (as Smacky mentioned) to function. You can have the best handle on proper terminology, but unless the folks to whom you are tossing it know it as well you simply are NOT communicating. That can be frustrating for both parties, and can in some instances become dangerous. A smart captain adapts his terminology to meet the learning level of his crew, but also invests the time to train them (if they are interested, that is.)