SDSAB thread: Why do pilots say “roger” on the radio? makes no mention of the larger phrase “roger that”. But “roger that” seems to be the preferred Hollywood phrase instead of just “roger”.
It feels like it needs a comma: Roger, that. In the same way that “that’s depressing” doesn’t need a comma but “depressing, that” does.
Whaddaya’s think?
I think no. To me, “Roger that” is the equivalent of “I understand that” (as opposed to “I understand, that”).
ETA: And, of course, had I read the linked article first, I could have used the examples “I received that” vs “I received, that”.
We were slapped down pretty fast in the Marines for saying “Rogert that.” Just say “Roger,” we were told. But it may have just been my platoon/company, I don’t know.
Sir Rhosis
I heard “roger that” in the Navy a good bit. As milquetoast said, it’s generally a phrase that is taken as a single unit. I think the comma confusion stems from the fact that we do have the “depressing, that” construction. (I don’t know what it’s called, or if it even has a name.) We’re more used to hearing the latter, so we assume the former is the same.
I have to admit to being a little hasty with the “Roger Wilco” thing. I seem to recall that it was a catchphrase of the old Super Chicken cartoon, and for that reason, it stuck in my head. Had I checked with Airman Doors, who actually does fly, I would have found out that no such usage exists, at least not in the military, and at least not currently. Mea maxima culpa.
Robin
I’ve always seen it without a comma. But it seems to be a bit musty as military jargon goes, from what I’ve read.
I don’t hear the word all that often from pilots. When given an instruction by ATC, one is expected to simply repeat it, in sufficient length to make the controller sure you’ve understood it (it also helps drive it into your brain). They do tned to get a bit petulant if you simply “Roger” a clearance, and will tell you to read it back in words that make it clear you ain’t gettin’ nuthin’ until you do. But I do hear controllers say Roger quite a bit when pilots tell them something first.
Wilco? Only once in a great while.
That’s depressing
-That is depressing
–Depressing is the state of that
—Depressing, that
----Depressing, that (is) (or) Depressing (is the state of) that.
The first implied meaning I put, I can’t explain well but I guess you’re rearranging the phrases so it sounds wierd to have something so odd be “naturally” said. In the second one the comma gives “time” to put in the omitted/implied words. Almost acting like an apostraphe.
Roger that
-® That
–R(ecieved) That
—(I) Recieved That
You’re really only omitting one word, and it’s before the sentence begins, and you’re not rearranging anything into an odd manner.
Yes, my terminology for various parts of speech is rusty, but it hink I may have conveyed my message okay.
We used to use R in military morse comms and as sloppy procedure used it by habit when using voice.
In long detailed morse or voice messages the sending station would break up the message at intervals and enquire Roger so far?and the receiving station would respond Roger so far at which the sending station would continue with the message or the rx would respond with SAY GAIN all after…or IMI in morse.
If a station finally received a message through heavy jamming or atmospherics they would often totally illegally reply ROGER ROGER ROGER AR.(Spoken as ack ar)
Idiosynchracies in procedure were officially banned because the listening badguys could identify units and types of units by these very habits.
Of course this was in the stoneages before burst.
Reverting back to the original intent of the thread might I add that the voice procedure on an an unexpected encounter with badguys as in ambush was
Contact(with shooting badpeople),Wait,(as in do not speak to me at this moment as we’re busy),Out (as inI’ve stopped speaking to you)
So theorectically it was Contact. Wait. Out.
But it was always in practice Contact. Waitout
A bit like the head of the firing squad in Blackadder,I’m a gabbler me,Presentaimfire !I cant helpit sir ,chuckle.