tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post2535520304655751218..comments2023-12-18T09:58:17.070+00:00Comments on Thoughts of a Depressive Diplomatist: Terminological InactitudeDiplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-59752812565849284342016-06-13T18:56:32.815+01:002016-06-13T18:56:32.815+01:00Love the story! And then we say that we have troub...Love the story! And then we say that we have troubles with the Dutch language! :-D<br /><br />Greetings<br />Peterpeterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09450643635236807442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-30643190015456596582016-06-09T09:20:11.655+01:002016-06-09T09:20:11.655+01:00Yes, it does help. Thank you.Yes, it does help. Thank you.Diplomatisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-63355576242770935242016-06-09T02:32:19.608+01:002016-06-09T02:32:19.608+01:00Max Hasting's 'The Korean War' (1987) ...Max Hasting's 'The Korean War' (1987) has the following quote: "When Tom told Corps that his position was 'a bit sticky', they did not grasp that in British Army parlance, that meant 'critical'."<br /><br />The chapter notes that "All quotations in this chapter... are based upon author interviews with participants."<br /><br />Don't know if that helps.Barkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04389368754759452544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-73048447913015880082016-06-08T16:15:24.656+01:002016-06-08T16:15:24.656+01:00Ah RN signalling (smartarse version) - now that...Ah RN signalling (smartarse version) - now that's worthy of a post of its own!Diplomatisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-23347489775682954252016-06-08T02:07:54.381+01:002016-06-08T02:07:54.381+01:00Reminds me of an Aussie/American communication iss...Reminds me of an Aussie/American communication issue during the Vietnam war. Aussie said they would indicate position to chopper with a Torch. The American was freaked out as to them a Torch meant a flaming piece of wood like a tomb exploring movie scene. The translation to Merica speak for Aussie Torch is FLASHLIGHT. <br />Cheers The Kiwihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06829184068503627810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-881068372358429172016-06-07T23:54:27.496+01:002016-06-07T23:54:27.496+01:00Classic British understatement- which I missed. I ...Classic British understatement- which I missed. I like the Korean story btw. <br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Pete. Pete.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06668389518826053090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-28382193292046347472016-06-07T13:41:59.669+01:002016-06-07T13:41:59.669+01:00I came across this example of understatement which...I came across this example of understatement which I liked....<br /><br />British Airways pilot Eric Moody in 1982, after flying through a cloud of volcanic ash over Indonesia:<br /><br />"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress."alastairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15012644168758721189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-72683601951501314922016-06-07T13:40:03.617+01:002016-06-07T13:40:03.617+01:00Real life example - During a large(ish) NATO exerc...Real life example - During a large(ish) NATO exercise in the North Sea in the Autumn of '74, Peter Coward (Captain, HMS Sirius) was in command of a frigate squadron of mixed nationalilty. During one evolution, the Dutchman 'Van Spejk' went off station (VERY unusual for a Dutch ship) and received the signal "Quo Vadis?". Unfortunately, the Dutch skipper wasn't a latin scholar and he continued on his merry way until brought up short by another signal more typical of the modern Admiralty. The Dutch ship's company thought the episode was hilarious and typical of those crazy British . . . .GaryAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06963552380378929829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-28269143280482781162016-06-07T12:58:11.133+01:002016-06-07T12:58:11.133+01:00Is that heroic understatement or company policy?Is that heroic understatement or company policy?GaryAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06963552380378929829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-35753835120385590272016-06-07T12:55:46.184+01:002016-06-07T12:55:46.184+01:00We aim to please.We aim to please.Diplomatisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-61899700173382514412016-06-07T12:24:34.203+01:002016-06-07T12:24:34.203+01:00Well that brought a smile to my face, thank you. Well that brought a smile to my face, thank you. Michael Awdryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07049982879661559305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-85412305056885481892016-06-07T09:03:10.393+01:002016-06-07T09:03:10.393+01:00http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1316777/...http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1316777/The-day-650-Glosters-faced-10000-Chinese.html<br /><br />OK, I'm going to have to dig out my copy of The Edge of the Sword and see what Farrar-Hockley actually says.Diplomatisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com