Page 27 - ELG1705 May Issue 447

FEATURES & COMMENT

Headlines suggested that pilots who are non-native English speakers are to
blame for aeroplane near-misses. But is this the whole story?
Claudia Civinini talks to the author of the report that hit the news

OR Dr Clark, language emergency situations. This doesn’t
and aviation are life-long The perils of happen with non-natives, as this is
passions. Once a flight part of their training. I also think that
attendant for Northwest if you are not used to interacting with
F Airlines, she then obtained an people that don’t share your language
to become a researcher and a consultant. using slang that you need to speak slower and to
background you might not understand
MA and PhD in linguistics from Queen
Mary, University of London, and went on
Conversation English and Aviation
Most of her research work focuses on simplify your language.
language-related miscommunication in English are very different, and when
aviation, which prompted the UK Civil in the native speakers don’t use conventional
Aviation Authority to draw on her expertise aviation phraseology and plain English,
There was a horrible mid-air collision in India’s air
to compile the now famous report*. miscommunication can occur.
With Aviation English being a lingua
Dr Clark explained to the Gazette where
she believes the problem with Aviation English franca, should native English speakers be
lies. tested as well?
Why is English the lingua franca of the
Yes – I would like all people working in
skies, and what are the language requirements international aviation to go through the same
for pilots and air traffic controllers? English speakers.
training and tests, both native and non-native
airspace in the mid-90s due to a miscommunication It might be tricky for people to accept that, but
between pilots and controllers, as well as poor I think it’s unfair to expect that native English
language proficiency of some of the pilots involved. speakers should know how to communicate in a way
This prompted India, a member state of the that is useful for non-native speakers without some
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), kind of training. With pronunciation, for example,
to suggest that a language be decided upon for it should be a two (or many) way street. We should
international aviation. It could have been any language, teach non-native speakers how to make certain sounds.
but English was voted by member states to be the But we should also make native speakers aware of what
language used by pilots and air traffic controllers. certain sounds may sound like if made by speakers of
In 2011, minimum language proficiency a different language background.
requirements were implemented. There are six In regards to testing, right now, it’s up to
levels: Level 1 is absolute beginner, Level 6 is the national regulators to approve their
native speaker level. The minimum level own exams, methodology and standards -
for pilots and air traffic controllers is Level and this is quite confusing. I would call
4, which means broadly conversational on ICAO to establish more explicit
– but some miscommunication and and binding guidance and regulations
misunderstanding can still happen. for the Aviation English exams,
If you had to rank the top three in order to reduce the number of
causes of language-related incidents, approved tests and create a standard
what would they be? syllabus.
I have four! First of all, native English I would also like testing to be
speakers using too much jargon and extended to ground staff (mechanics,
slang. They also sometimes display a lack caterers etc.). At the moment they are
of cultural understanding of non-native not tested, but I think there should be
speakers’ needs and expectations. The a minimum level of language proficiency
next issue is, multilingual radiotelephony for them as well.
in air space – that is, speaking more than one What can the ELT industry do to help?
language on radio frequencies shared by pilots and First of all, join the conversation! I would like
air traffic controllers. to see industry insiders, airline crews, researchers,
Finally, there is a widespread lack of awareness of what language teachers and examiners all contribute to the
language related miscommunication is and discussion about aviation English.
why it is crucial to report it. A lot of times It could have been Then there are certain topics that Aviation
people just don’t report it, but I think it’s any language, but English courses could put more emphasis on.
fundamental for us to have the data. Without For example, numbers: those were involved in
evidence it’s never going to get better, it’s just English was voted a lot of language-related incidents. Numbers
going to get worse. are used constantly in aviation and to not be
So, what is the issue with native speakers? able to think quickly in numbers is a huge problem.
It makes me really happy you want to talk about it! It all boils down Finally, I would like to see language courses, lessons, syllabi and exams
to the fact that most native speakers don’t undergo the same training in replicate more real life scenarios. Sometimes we get lessons and exams in
using language in aviation that non-native speakers do. They are granted very quiet places where people can take their time. Unfortunately, that’s
privileged status by virtue of where they were born and what language not how it works in aviation, especially during emergencies.
they were speaking when they were growing up – I don’t believe that’s fair.
Native speakers end up using jargon and slang that non-natives might
not understand. Also, they use too many words, which is not helpful in *CAP1375: Aviation English Research Project:
An independent study, by Barbara Clark

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