It's a small point, but CW is at best an alphabet, not a language. Your examples prove it. It can be used to convey a message in any language that shares the characters it represents. You could use a typewriter to create a document when handed a written message in any language that shares the same characters that are represented on the typewriter. You're not translating; you're transcribing.
The same attributes you cite for Morse would apply to the American English alphabet (the letters a-z with no diacriticals). It can be used to convey messages in English, Hawaiian, and one other language I'll leave as an exercise for the reader. But it's an alphabet, not a language. You could also make the same statement with respect to Unicode. Unicode is a standard way used by computers to represent letters and ideograms of all the world's languages. You can give me a message in literally any language and I can represent it in Unicode. But Unicode isn't a language; it's just a universal alphabet. Craig NZ0R -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Sandy W5TVW Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2006 4:56 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Is CW a Language? Morse telegraphy (landline OR wireless versions.) IS definitely a LIVING LANGUAGE! No doubt! Perhaps one of the most universal living languages today. Unlike learning say German, French, Latin or whatever, if you write using the Latin alphabet, you can transmit to another and receive any message regardless of the sender's or the receiver's language! It is extremely unique in this regard. Telegraph operators that used to be on ships could send messages in whatever language (plain text or cipher) and communicate even though, basically, they couldn't speak or write or read the language they were sending via Morse! Even prisoners used it in prison camps by tapping on walls or pipes. You must learn it like any different language from your native one to make use of it. It takes practice and more practice. I know it ain't easy! (But then could you converse with other people when you were a baby or a young tyke? It took practice and more practice!) Hopefully, the present people running the ITU, ARRL, FCC and other entities, will preserve this VERY unique method of communication. It's slow...yes, it's "old"...yes, but it ain't obsolete! My 2 penny's worth! 73, Sandy W5TVW (Yeah, I had a helluva time learning it and hated it at first! But it's just about all I use to QSO on the "wireless" today!) _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
