NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
From: Paul Dolkas
Date: 2018 Dec 1, 05:51 +0000
Tony, you wrote:
"By the way, in my language the "altitude" word has very strong smell of mountaineering to it."
I also have strong reservations about jargon. When I was first learning about CN, the word "altitude" in particular used to give me fits. As an aeronautical engineer, I can firmly state that "altitude" is the distance between the ground and one's landing gear.
-Paul
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2018 8:45:46 AM
To: Paul Dolkas
Subject: [NavList] Jargon, terminology , words' meanings, etc.
Hello!
The recent discussions involve the "jargon" word and desire to not obscure the reason/meaning of a topic by use of some sort of terms, more so by the IMPROPER use of said terms.
It is THE problem because all the words we use - we invented ourselves, the words did not come from the outside. This apparatus (the words and their meanings) evolved along with the humanity and its' culture. We just agreed to understand certain sound sequences (or intricate ornaments on paper etc) as meaningful messages.
One's ability to use the language comes with education. It is not possible to explain, say, the tensor mathematics to a layman before he masters all the basics of Arithmetics etc.
NC is no different. This specialised area of knowledge depends on its' own set of terms. Why Frank wants to - arbitrarily - label some terms as "jargon" (which to my ear has derogatory connotation) - I do not understand.
The real problem here is in the improper use of words (the "zenith" instead of the "culmination" or "highest altitude reached by a celestial body", etc).
By the way, in my language the "altitude" word has very strong smell of mountaineering to it. In that aspect - everything IS jargon.
Warm regards,
Tony
60°N 30°E
