There are words that came from another language, but they remained. There are many of them, and gradually they become archaisms, replaced by other words with the same meaning.
But there is one word that has become international. He is understood by all who are connected with the sea. This is a SOS signal. The interpretation is translated in different ways, but in Russian the most common was "save our souls."
The role of the invention of radio in saving people
How to transmit a signal to help the ship? Previously, this could be done with cannon shots, an inverted state flag and lowered sails.
You must admit that in the open sea all this will be useless if another ship does not pass nearby. But with the opening of the radio, another countdown comes. From now on, it became possible to transmit information over much greater distances than before.
At first, there were no international codes prescribing urgent help to a ship in distress. The signals were transmitted over the radio in Morse codification using short and long signals. The icebreaker Ermak was the first to receive such an alarm. A radio station located in Finland broadcast an order to immediately rescue fifty fishermen. The ice floe came off, and they were carried away from the shore.
It happened on February 6, 1900. The first rescue operation was successful; the icebreaker took all the fishermen on board. Today they use much more technologically advanced means of communication, but still ships are equipped with radio transmitters.
Signals Prior to SOS
This incident led to the adoption of a unified distress alert system. It was decided to use Morse code, but to establish a single international code.
Three years after saving people from the coast of Finland, the CQ code was used for this (the first letters of the phrase come quick, which translates as “come quickly”). Next year, Marconi, a radio transmitter company, offers to add the letter D to the code (the first letter of the word danger, which means “danger”).
German Telefunken, a competitor to Italians, introduces its letter combination - SOE (“Save Our Ship”). America introduced its code - NC (need salvation), that is, "I need salvation."
Each wireless transmitted its own signal. He could be understood only on the same equipment. This led to the fact that the Vaterland liner refused to provide important information to the American ship Lebanon, which was in a hurry to find the ship. This was due to a ban on negotiations with those who do not have Marconi equipment.
A bit of history
In 1906, after several discussions on this subject, telegraph operators of the world receive the SOS signal, replacing the SOE code. It happened on October 6 in Berlin.
To make it clear that this is the international code, it was decided to accept another character in Morse code. It consists of three dashes, enclosed on both sides by three dots. No breaks - SOS.
The decoding of the word as such did not exist anymore, since these letters no longer meant anything. And in different languages there were different transcriptions. Brevity, recognition, convenience of difference from snippets of speech - this served as the basis for the reception of the SOS signal.
However, due to conflicting instructions from manufacturers of radio equipment, this code was introduced everywhere only from 1908. And even after that there were still overlays. For example, the dying Titanic was transmitting CQD due to the fact that it had a Marconi device.
First signals
Until 1912, there were several uses of the new signal, but help came on time and the need for a unified signal system was not yet obvious.
After the tragedy of the Titanic, this became necessary. As it was prescribed, after the disaster with the iceberg, the radio operator sent the CQD signal, later - at his own risk - SOS. But the paradox is that nearby ships took it for pranks of passengers.
After the death of one and a half thousand people, this signal was no longer ignored.
SOS abbreviation in English
Although there is no official decryption, since these are not words abbreviated by the first letters, some options have taken root among the people:
Save Our Souls - the phrase immediately invented by the sailors became the most famous. It means save our souls. These romantic words served as a source of inspiration to the authors of poems and songs. Largely thanks to them, this maritime code is so widely known.
Instead of “soul” they often use the word “ship” - Save Our Ship.
Swim Or Sink - a cry for help, translated as "swim or drown."
Stop Other Signals (SOS decoding a bit strange at first glance: “stop other signals”). At such times, other signals are indeed inappropriate.
SOS ("save from death") is a logical decoding in Russian.
All these options are formed after choosing the international Morse code. In writing, it looks like three Latin letters with a dash over them.
Reserve frequency
Together with the installed signal, a special frequency of its transmission is also allocated. The fifteenth and forty-fifth minutes of each hour are set aside for listening to the broadcast. This time is called radio silence. All messages are interrupted in order to hear a call for help.
In 1927, a ban was established on transmission at a frequency of 500 kHz. In addition to the SOS signal, the frequency is used for other messages that threaten safety (mines, shallowing of the fairway, etc.).
With the development of radio communications, it has become possible to transmit information by voice. In order not to confuse it with an SOS signal, the decoding in English of which does not exist, they adopted the word Mayday, which in French means "come to my aid." And for voice messages, a different air frequency was allocated.
SOS is losing relevance
Technological progress does not stand still. In 1999, an automated warning system appeared. It is called GMDSS. It uses satellite navigation aids.
Nevertheless, radio operators are still listening to the broadcast so as not to miss the important three letters.
Now tourists who are in trouble can attract attention with a bonfire made of SOS letters. Decryption is no longer needed, as it is understandable to everyone. Although the term came from marine vocabulary, this word is also used in figurative meanings, the meaning of which conveys desperate requests for help.
Such well-known pop groups as ABBA, Spleen and some others used precisely this nautical code in their work. V. Vysotsky sang about the dying sailors who used the most famous SOS decryption.
And although it sounds less and less at sea, it is a good word. It has taken root in many languages and is perceived by people who are far from maritime regulations as “save our souls”.