When I was a child, if my mum offered me ‘a sandwich’ I knew exactly what she meant … white bread with cheddar cheese. It was a very simple conversation with a very simple outcome (‘yes, please’ or ‘no, thank you’). Today, visiting a sandwich shop is quite an experience … there are so many options … the bread, the filling, the seasoning, the size, hot or cold, the type of cheese, etc. Of course it’s good to have choices but sometimes it can be overwhelming; sometimes having fewer options can lead to greater clarity. And that is exactly why using Standard Phraseology is such an important part of safe, effective Radiotelephony. Phraseology deliberately limits our linguistic options. If English is not your first language, I’m sure you will know exactly what I mean. Non-native English speakers are not expected to have perfect English. But they are expected to know Standard Phraseology. Whenever possible, we must all stick to Standard Phraseology.

CHEESE SANDWICHES AND STANDARD PHRASEOLOGY