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El and Bill
Joined: 08 Nov 2003 Posts: 3200 City/Region: Lakewood, CO
State or Province: CO
C-Dory Year: 2000
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Halcyon
Photos: Halcyon
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 12:12 pm Post subject: Why is the word 'mayday' used for help? |
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Question of the day:
Q: Why do ships and aircraft use 'mayday' as their call for help?
A: This comes from the French word 'm'aidez -meaning 'help me' -- and is pronounced, approximately, 'mayday.'
We learn something new every day (or, at least, that's new to me). _________________ El and Bill (former live-aboards)
Halcyon 2000 CD 22 Bought 2000 Sold 2012
http://cruisingamerica-halcyondays.com/ |
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Sunbeam
Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Posts: 3990 City/Region: Out 'n' About
State or Province: Other
C-Dory Year: 2002
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Photos: Sunbeam
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 12:40 pm Post subject: |
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To continue with the theme, "pan-pan, pan-pan, pan-pan" also has French roots. Panne in French means something like being stuck, in trouble, or out of something. Tomber en panne, for example, means basically "befallen with trouble," and is used to describe when your car breaks down. In French, panne is pronounced "pahn" and hence why "pan-pan x3" is not said like it would be in the English frying pan.
Sécurité (x3 on the radio) also comes from French, but its meaning is fairly obvious. However, that's why it's pronounced "say-curie-TAY" and not "seh-CURE-itty" as it would be in English.
It's always fun to learn more about words, isn't it? Boating provides a lot of opportunity for that, being steeped in tradition.
Sunbeam |
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TyBoo
Joined: 23 Oct 2003 Posts: 5313 City/Region: Warrenton
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 1996
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruise Ship
Vessel Name: TyBoo
Photos: TyBoo
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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Not to be culturally nonsensitive here, but it sure sounds like those Frenchmen get in a lot of trouble... _________________ TyBoo Mike
Sold: 1996 25' Cruise Ship
Sold: 1987 22' Cruiser |
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El and Bill
Joined: 08 Nov 2003 Posts: 3200 City/Region: Lakewood, CO
State or Province: CO
C-Dory Year: 2000
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Halcyon
Photos: Halcyon
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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And, TyBoo, what about French women? |
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localboy
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 4656 City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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Ditto. One of those things I always wondered, but never looked up.
Quote: | Not to be culturally nonsensitive here, but it sure sounds like those Frenchmen get in a lot of trouble... |
Reminds me of a joke:
I saw an ad on E-bay. It said; "FOR SALE. WWII FRENCH ARMY RIFLE. EXCELLENT CONDITION. NEVER FIRED. JUST DROPPED ONCE." _________________ "We can go over there...behind the 'little one'....."
Wife to her husband pointing @ us...from the bow of their 50-footer; Prideaux Haven 2013 |
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starcrafttom
Joined: 07 Nov 2003 Posts: 7882 City/Region: marysville
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1984
C-Dory Model: 27 Cruiser
Vessel Name: to be decided later
Photos: Susan E
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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Great the surrender monkeys have tricked me into speaking frog. Figures they would have threes ways to ask for help.
And as of their women, Well I guess those guys need all the help they can get. _________________ Thomas J Elliott
http://tomsfishinggear.blogspot.com/ |
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TyBoo
Joined: 23 Oct 2003 Posts: 5313 City/Region: Warrenton
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 1996
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruise Ship
Vessel Name: TyBoo
Photos: TyBoo
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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I am very sorry I made the joke. If folks here want to badmouth people - any people - they should take it to Facebook or Twitter or some other childish venue. I should have known better and I apologize to the several friends I have on here of French descent. |
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localboy
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 4656 City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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I come from Hawai'i where we all learn at an early age to laugh at ourselves. It's a community of myriad cultures so you need to get along. As a result, I don't do the PC thing. I don't mean any insult. If we can't laugh at ourselves...people, some not all, are way too sensitive. |
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JamesTXSD
Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Posts: 7445 City/Region: from island boy to desert dweller
State or Province: AZ
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: "Wild Blue" (sold 9/14)
Photos: Wild Blue
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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Aw, it was just a joke. Feel free to poke fun at those of us from Iowish descent. Some of us might even get the joke.
I figured the saying had something to do with holiday stuff... and "Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!" sounds a lot more urgent than, "Trick or treat!"
No one could ever mistake you for being a mean person, Mike - you are truly one of the good guys. And I don't care what anyone here says about you.
See? Another joke. Please don't ask me to apologize for that.
Best wishes,
Jim
(My forefathers came from other places, but I am an American... and I think it even says in the Constitution that we can make fun of people from foreign lands... like North Dakota) |
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starcrafttom
Joined: 07 Nov 2003 Posts: 7882 City/Region: marysville
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1984
C-Dory Model: 27 Cruiser
Vessel Name: to be decided later
Photos: Susan E
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 12:34 am Post subject: |
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How can you tell I'm being sarcastic? MY LIPS ARE MOVING> I said Mes lèvres se déplacent!!!!
in five easy clicks of the net you to can Insult people in a language you have only heard the horrible accent of. |
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rogerbum
Joined: 21 Nov 2004 Posts: 5922 City/Region: Kenmore
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Meant to be
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starcrafttom
Joined: 07 Nov 2003 Posts: 7882 City/Region: marysville
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1984
C-Dory Model: 27 Cruiser
Vessel Name: to be decided later
Photos: Susan E
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 12:59 am Post subject: |
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I dont know. I am not afraid of the dark. |
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Mike B
Joined: 23 Apr 2011 Posts: 39 City/Region: Staten Island
State or Province: NY
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 22 Angler
Vessel Name: Remembrance
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:24 am Post subject: |
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Q: Why do ships and aircraft use 'mayday' as their call for help?
A: Because nobody helps if you say "Juneday" ! |
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