Have you ever found yourself around a group of lawyers or a group of bridge players and not understood a word they were saying to each other ? It is interesting to observe how every profession develops its own unique languages. If you are into car racing you discuss stroke, dwell, venturi's, and differentials. Machinists speak of collets, end mills and tapping . Those into computers talk in megabytes, hard drives and floppy disks.
It's also interesting to note that many words have totally different meanings as you cross industries and hobbies. A cheater in the auto shop might help you get a tight bolt to turn, but in poker one would never be welcome. A foul in basketball costs you a turn, but in baseball, it gives you another try.
The more you speak and understand the language of your hobbies and occupations, the more accepted you become in that community. There is a lot of tradition handed down through the written and spoken internal languages of specialized groups. The languages can become almost sacred to the members because it identifies those who are on "the inside". Those who speak the language properly identify themselves as being knowledgeable and proficient.
Ham Radio has its own language, its own acronyms and its on secret codes. It has not only a spoken language, but a subset of that language that is expressed in dots and dashes. We have nearly a century of proud history and evolution. We have pioneered radio communications and have been trusted to wisely use portions of the radio spectrum because by providing public service in times of need, we are more than just a hobby . When given this kind of responsibility, most take it pretty seriously and do whatever we can to preserve our privileges and our public image.
In the late 50's, the 11 meter Ham band was reallocated to the Citizens Radio Service. It was intended to provide short range communication for those who could not afford commercial two-way radios. It was meant for personal communication between families and friends. Up through the mid 60's CB was pretty much used for what it was intended. There were no exams , very little control and since it had no traditions, those who would exploit the public seized the opportunity and turned CB into a sewer of illegal activities. As more and more equipment became available and more and more citizens became aware of the "fun" of CB, it became a hobby instead of a service and the FCC lost control. Anarchy has reigned since the early 70's and CB is virtually unusable for its legal intent.
In the early days of CB the language used was normal, "telephone-like", conversation along with a 10-Code adopted from law enforcement. As the 70's progressed , and the IQ's of the operators also approached the 70's, CB developed its own language. Some of this language is particularly irritating to Hams because it was borrowed from us.
CB has lost its glamour to many who were caught up in the early craze . Many who enjoy communicating and now find CB frustrating and useless are "going ham". They are studying, getting licensed, and are joining the Ham fraternity . Most of us welcome converted CB'ers to our hobby and applaud their efforts to become licensed and to share our privileges (and responsibilities !). Because of the stigma of CB, we also urge every one coming from the CB ranks to de-program themselves of the language of CB and adopt the Language of Ham Radio. Those newcomers can't realize how irritating it is to hams who have earned their privileges to hear that CB trash spoken on the Ham bands . Continued use of CB jargon either indicates that the traditions of Ham Radio are being torn down intentionally or those speaking in CB do not care enough about their privileges to become an insider in the Ham Fraternity. They would not be welcome very long among hunters if they didn't learn the language of hunting. They wouldn't be of much use working in a computer store if they didn't speak in "bits and bytes". So it is with Ham Radio!
PLEASE help us continue the traditions that make our hobby so great by speaking the language that has evolved over a century of pioneering and public service. If you have joined the ranks of Amateur Radio from CB, make a conscious effort to be "standing by" instead of "we're on the side". Please tell the person you are talking to that they are "full-quieting" not "coming in wall to wall". Be aware that your antenna may be horizontally polarized, but it is not "on the flat side" . Understand that you have a name or a handle (and your handle is your name!), not a "personal". Above all, someone whose name you do not know can be an Old Man or Young Lady, but never a "good buddy." Please try to limit the word "kinda " to no more than once in a QSO. And for Gosh Sake, if you're talking to me, don't end your conversation by wishing me "semody-thirds"!!!!!
This article was published in the May, June, July 1995 issue of the Southeastern Repeater Journal (SERA)
Click here to go to Ed's, (W4KMA) Antenna Website