東京海洋大学Yoko UCHIDA

RESEARCH

Maritime English  English Pronunciation Instruction (E) / (J)

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Maritime English

Maritime English is "the English language used by seafarers both at sea and in port and by individuals working in the shipping and shipbuilding industry" (Bocanegra-Valle, 2013), and used in areas such as ship-to-ship/ship-to-port/onboard oral communications, documents used in navigation, reports in navigation, maritime laws, shipbuilding, and more. Even onboard, multi-national/cultural crew is very common on ocean-going vessels, where harmony among international crew members is crucial. Therefore, without a good command of English, communication difficulties can arise, and in much worse cases, they can lead to maritime accidents. (Hetherington et al., 2006; Pyne & Koester, 2005; Short, 2006).

The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention, 1995) requires the acquisition of a minimum level of English competence for both navigational officers and engineering officers. In the Convention, deck officers are required the use of Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP, 2002).

Since "Maritime communication must be short and precise, unambiguous and simple," (Van Kluijven, 2003: 25), standardization of language and terminology is made in SMCP. Some characteristics of SMCP are as follows:

1) Use of message markers
  • INSTRUCTION. Do not cross the fairway.
  • ADVICE. Stand by on VHF channel six nine.
  • REQUEST. I require two tugs.
2) Use of specific verbs (instead of auxiliary verbs)
  • May I enter the fairway? → QUESTION. Do I have permission to enter the fairway?
  • I might enter the fairway. → INTENTION. I will enter the fairway.
  • You could be running into danger. → WARNING. You are running into danger.
3) Use of full forms (instead of shortened/contracted forms)
  • I'm underway. → I am underway.
  • Don't cross the fairway. → Do not cross the fairway.
  • I've a list to port. → I have a list to port.
4) Use of "Mistake – Correction" and "Repeat"
  • My present speed is 14 knots – mistake. Correction, my present speed is 12, 12 knots.
  • My draft is 12.6 – repeat – 12.6 meters.
  • Do not overtake – repeat – do not overtake.

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