be reluctant to admit that he cannot understand the language

The person receiving the explanation may also,

understandably, be reluctant to admit that he cannot understand the language that is

used. The skill is in recognising that, even when ordinary English is used, there may. be

problems of comprehension. The initiator of any cQmmunication needs to get positive

confirmation that the ‘language’ he is using is one that can be understood.

In identifying the appropriate’ language’ for communication, attention needs to be given

to the possibility of ambiguity. The more important the consequences of error, the more

attention needs to be devoted to avoiding ambiguity. If stress is needed on this point, it

can be provided by the ambiguous use of words which contributed to the world’s worst

air disaster at Tenerife in the Canary Islands in 1977. The pilot of a KLM Jumbo Jet, who

was ironically. also the head of their Flight Training Department, was preparing to take

off at Tenerife. He explained that he was ready to the air traffic controllers and in

response was told “Okay. Stand by for take-off I will call you”. In the pause after the world

“Okay” there was radio interference because of a radio query by the Captain .of a

Pan-Am Jumbo about the intentions of the KLM Captain