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Language, code, proficiency etc.
A rather lengthy thread contains erroneous claims on the above topics.
Morse code is not a language. Language is communication of thoughts and feelings through a system of arbitrary signals, such as voice sounds, gestures, or written symbols, with such a system including its rules for combining its components, such as words. The words are the language. Morse code is the alphabet just like A, B, C ... Z are the alphabet. It is nothing more than the building blocks used to compose the words that actually are the language. English, French, Spanish, German etc. are languages. Hello, bonjou, ola, and hallo are alphabetic symbols combined to form a word meaning the same thing in the various languages. It doesn't matter if the word is written, transmitted orally or by CW, it is still just a string of characters that only becomes language based on the knowledge of the sender to combine them in the proper sequence and the recipient to translate it and receive the intended communication. Neither the alphabet nor morse code are languages. Proficiency is having or marked by an advanced degree of competence, as in an art, vocation, profession, or branch of learning. One could extend that to include competence in an avocation or hobby. Our narrow minded and singly focused friend claims an operators ability to use code makes him more proficient. That is patently false in many cases. It is the overall competency that is the determinant. The operator with code skills may be excellent at code and know nothing of PSK, digital, satellites, EME or any number of things while another operator can expertly use any of them but doesn't know code. They may both be proficient operators, just in differing modes of operation. Then again, neither may be a proficient operator. They may barely know enough about their equipment to get it to do what they narrowly focus on doing. A third operator who perhaps doesn't know code and only knows SSB operation may be the proficient operator who knows his equipment well and can quickly and easily adjust it to perform at peak efficiency in his operating mode. It boils down to code being nothing more than another operating mode which isn't a language and isn't a gauge of proficiency. |
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