Standard Maritime Communication Phrases – is this language learning in a Multi-User Virtual Environment?

Todd Cochrane Digital Technologies, NMIT Todd.Cochrane@nmit.ac.nz

Niki Davis University of Canterbury e-Learning Lab

Niki.Davis@Canterbury.ac.nz

Julie Mackey University of Canterbury e-Learning Lab

Julie.Mackie@Canterbury.ac.nz

Standard Maritime Communication Phrases ?

International Maritime Organisation (IMO) when describing the position of the SMCP, the compilation of the SMCP is:

“ – to assist in the greater safety of navigation and of the conduct of the ship – to standardize the language used in communication for the navigation at sea, in port, approaches, waterways and harbours, and on board vessels with multilingual crews, and – to assist maritime training institutions in meeting the objectives mentioned above” (IMO 2002, p. 1)

Standard Maritime Communication Phrases

External communications (part A) “communications from ship to shore, shore to ship and ship to ship … as well as phrases applicable on board vessels in conversations between pilots and bridge teams as required by regulation …”(IMO 2002, p. 23) On-board communications (part B) “on-board standard safety-related phrases which, supplementary to part A, may assist mariners in meeting other basic on-board communication requirements and may be regarded as useful for maritime English instruction.” (IMO 2002, p. 71)

A1 External communication phrases • A1/1 Distress traffic • A1/1.1 Distress communication

• A1/1.1.1 Fire, explosion • A1/1.1.1.1 I am / MV … on fire (- after explosion)

• A1/1.1.1.2 Where is the fire? • A1/1.1.1.2.1 Fire is

• ~ on deck • ~ in engine room • ~ in hold(s) • ~ in superstructure / accommodation / …

• A1/1.1.1.3 Are dangerous goods on fire? • A1/1.1.1.3.1. Yes, dangerous goods are on fire • A1/1.1.1.3.2 No, dangerous goods are not on fire

Based on IMO (2002) p. 25 .

The phrases are highly structured, to be used according to the situation of the vessel:

CLOSED LOOP

Master issues order Helm responds by repeating the order

Learning standard wheel orders at the helm was selected as a scenario.

Master says, “Port 120” Helm says, “Port 120” … after period of time when the ship has turned

Master says, “Port 120 , thank-you”

MULTI-USER VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS

The Open Simulator (2014) system used in the present project provides a range of facilities for developing learning situations in a MUVE: • Spatial movement of the avatar. • Avatar animation and clothing. • Sophisticated control of the 3D environment through internal scripting and

external open source code. • A media rich environment in which any media on a web page can be

streamed on to a surface in the environment. • Voice communication. • With appropriate tools, voice can be recorded and played back.

COMPUTER ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING

Tutorial computer-assisted language learning (Heift & Shulze, 2015)

Not intelligent CALL (Wang & Young 2104)

Practice of phrases for pronunciation and the need for an almost second nature reaction to the orders matches a practice centred perspective taken by tutorial computer-assisted language learning Feedback – participants and recording

Experimentation with speech recognition engines may lead to further development of the system.

IS THIS LANGUAGE LEARNING IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT?

SMCP addresses discipline specific language. (Plasberg ,1999) Maritime vocabulary such as “starboard”, Discipline specific meaning of phrases as used in maritime situations:

“make water to” is to have water flowing into the vessel due to hull damage.

Structured to provide consistent comprehension of orders and the situation in the vessel. Trainees develop their capacity to use the SMCP as a mode of communication

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful for the invaluable participation of tutoring staff from the NMIT Maritime Studies group who provide for authenticity in the development in the Ship’s Bridge: Captain Katherine Walker (Class 1 Unlimited - Master Mariner Foreign Going) manager of the New Zealand Institute of Maritime Studies, Captain Chris Lordan (Class 1 Unlimited - Master Mariner Foreign Going) who runs a range of courses including Standards of Training, Certification and Watch Keeping, and Officer of the Watch Roger Wincer Tutor Warren Masterson 3D MUVE designer

REFERENCES Claudia, G. P., & Alexandru-Florin, R. (2013). STANDARD MARITIME VOCABULARY PHRASES. Analele Universitatii Maritime Constanta, 14(19). Cochrane, T., Davis, N.E., & Mackey, J. (2015). Design Based Research with AGILE sprints to produce MUVES in Vocational Education. (291-313) In K. Terry & A. Cheney (eds.) Utilizing Virtual and Personal Learning Environments for Optimal Learning. Hershey, PA: IGI Global. Heift, T., & Schulze, M. (2015). Tutorial computer-assisted language learning. Language Teaching, 48(04), 471–490. http://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444815000245 IMO. (2002). IMO STANDARD MARINE COMMUNICATION PHRASES. International Maritime Organization. IMO. (2003). Model Course 1.22 Ships Simulator and Bridge Teamwork (2002 Edition). International Maritime Organization. OpenSimulator. (2014). OpenSim. Retrieved from http://opensimulator.org/wiki/Main_Page Plasberg, U. (1999). Building bridges to Europe: languages for students of other disciplines. The Language Learning Journal, 20(1), 51–58. http://doi.org/10.1080/09571739985200271 Wang, Y.-H., & Young, S. S.-C. (2014). A study of the design and implementation of the ASR-based iCASL system with corrective feedback to facilitate English learning