The following dialogue takes place between two native speakers of English in the lower airspace in the vicinity of a major airport. Two aircraft towards the airfield:

Pilot – Fox Charlie speaking. Who’s ahead ... us or Golf Yankee?

Controller – Well... you’re neck and neck.

Pilot – We can keep a high speed in the descent if you want us to.

Controller – I don’t know how the TMA are going to plan this. You can if you wish.

Pilot – You’re the boss.

Controller – Well they’ll be the boss when you get down there. I’m just sort of keeping you apart for the moment.

Pilot – Understood.

GLOSSARY:

vicinity = proximidade

Fox Charlie = nome da aeronave

Golf Yankee = nome da aeronave

TMA = refere-se ao órgão de controle de tráfego aéreo

Native and Non-Native Speakers in the radiotelephony communication

The ICAO language proficiency requirements apply to native and non-native speakers alike. As English is the most commonly used language international aviation communications, many non-native speakers of English will require language training to improve their language proficiency. Nonetheless, the burden for improved communications should not be seen as falling solely non-native speakers. Native speakers of English, too, have a fundamentally important role to play in the international efforts to increase communication safety. Improving radiotelephony safety is no small matter, requiring concerted effort and widespread cooperation, and all pilots and controllers will benefit an improved understanding of how language functions, with a focus on strategies that aid comprehension and clarity. Additionally, an ethical obligation arises on the part of native speakers of English, in particular, to increase their linguistic awareness and to take special care in the delivery of messages.

Miscommunication can, and does, occur not only between non-native speakers but also between native speakers of the same language. Miscommunication between native speakers can occur as a result of a linguistic error or feature (ambiguity, homophony, etc.) or as a result of human carelessness (poor enunciation, too much data in a single transmission, or impatience ). Miscommunication can also occur between non-native speakers or between a native speaker and non-native speaker as a result of these issues, in addition to other sources of error specific to non-native English-use.

GLOSSARY:

ICAO =International Civil Aviation Organization

burden = carga ou fardo

concerted = planejados ou combinados

Laser operation to stop sweating

Cosmetic surgeons are offering a new 60 minute operation to stop excessive armpit perspiration for good, at a cost of £3,500.

The Laser Sweat Ablation service promises to end the embarrassing problem – known as axillary hyperhidrosis. Surgeon Mark Whiteley, who pioneered keyhole surgery to remove varicose veins ten years ago, is introducing it. His latest procedure involves a local anaesthetic under the arms, followed by a laser, which destroys the sweat glands.

In recent years celebrities, such as Madonna, have had Botox injections under the arms as a temporary solution to sweat patches.

Mr. Whiteley said; “Everyone sweats to lose heat and we sweat from all over our bodies.” “However, sweating is not evenly distributed over the body. People sweat more from some areas than others.” Indeed the armpits account for one per cent the body’s surface area, but excessive sweating here causes social embarrassment and can damage clothes. Hyperhidrosis is not a good condition to bear. It can affect people socially and emotionally.

The surgery has shown to have a side effect known as compensatory sweating. Stopping sweating from this small area redistributes this sweat to the other 99 per cent of the body. Therefore the total amount of sweating from the body does not change, but the embarrassing build-up of sweat under the arms is cured.

The treatment can only be used under the arms, and cannot be adapted for hand , face or feet.

GLOSSARY:

keyhole surgery = procedimento cirúrgico em que o cirurgião insere os instrumentos através de pequenos cortes feitos no corpo do paciente.

patches = “marcas”