Publications
Publication details [#31808]
Kent Jones, R. 2003. Miscommunication between pilots and air traffic control. Language Problems and Language Planning 27 (3) : 233–248.
Publication type
Article in journal
Publication language
English
Keywords
Language as a subject
Place, Publisher
John Benjamins
ISBN
0272-2690
Journal DOI
10.1075/lplp
Annotation
Language confusion is a frequent cause of pilot error. Although English was made the common language of world aviation in 1951, miscommunication and crashes in which communication was a contributing factor are common. Standard phrases used by air traffic controllers in the United States contain numerous confusing elements. These include ambiguities, misnomers and illogicalities. Phrases are not derivations of a master plan as they should be. The inability of English to express specific directions to pilots without confusion disqualifies it as a language for permanent use by aviation.