Not a complaint, just curious. I watch a lot of movies and they always refer to an army rank as Group Captain so and so. In US we just say Captain, and assume he is head of the group. Also I saw a few references to "Cavity wall insulation," where we just say insulation. Thank you.
2006-11-26 23:39:52 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Group Captain as a specific RAF rank (not army).
Cavity Wall insulation is a specific insulation technique (as opposed, for example to loft insulation) so I don't think we're being verbose just for the sake of it.
2006-11-26 23:44:55 · answer #1 · answered by Matthew H 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A group captain is not an army rank in the UK. It is an air force rank. A captain may be an army or navy rank.
Depends on what insulation you are talking about. Go to a hardware shop and ask about insulation and they will ask are you referring to under-floor insulation, attic insulation. insulation for water pipes, cavity wall insulation or whatever. So you have to specify which one you want.
2006-11-27 07:47:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Generally additional qualifications are made when it is useful to make a distinction, or when referring to something in a formal context. Military ranks are sometimes shortened informally, but are generally used in full in any type of formal setting, which of course covers much of military life.
Group Captain is a Royal Air Force rank, superior to Wing Commander and inferior to Air Commodore, and is equivalent to the US army rank of full Colonel. It is of course used in full to avoid confusion with the army rank of Captain, which is inferior.
Cavity wall insulation is usually referred to in full because of the significant difference in application method between this and other types of insulation. Most other types of insulation are applied in blanket or panel form on the interior of the wall/roof, whereas cavity wall insulation is injected as a liquid foam which then sets in the cavity (normally filled with air) between two layers of brickwork. This style of construction is not common in the US and therefore neither is the style of insulation.
2006-11-27 08:02:16 · answer #3 · answered by Graham I 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not sure about "cavity wall insulation," but "Group Captain" is an RAF rank equivalent to colonel in the USAF, Army, or Marines, or Captain in the Navy. The actual name of the rank is "Group Captain."
2006-11-27 07:42:32 · answer #4 · answered by Rusting 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Becuase it is the correct thing to do to be more specific instead of presenting people with dubious phrases which are open to interpretaions of infinite scope. Cutting down on information actually adds to confusion as opposed to the popular myth that to do so makes life easier.
If used properly, English as a language, is clear and precise and not demonstrative. On the other hand, cutting corners adds great layers of ambiguity which embelishes confusion and misunderstanding. There is nothing which is more time wasting than confused, ambigious language.
Clear communication is not demonstrtive it is merely appropriate and informative, as it should be.
2006-11-27 07:58:17 · answer #5 · answered by bumbleboi 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
.............I have never heard of Group Captain. What film was that?
About the insulation.........I think it's cos a cavity wall is not actually the same as other wall?!, but im not 100% sure on that.
2006-11-27 07:43:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Cavity wall insulation is a specific type because not all walls in the UK were cavity built and Group Captain is an Airforce term only.
We say Lift you say elevator we say path you say sidewalk! enjoy the diversity!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_Captain
2006-11-27 07:42:08 · answer #7 · answered by Sir Sidney Snot 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
the example you gave are not very good ones , it is simple to differentiate between different types of captain, or insulation, it avoids confusion, maybe you should try it!
2006-11-27 07:42:30 · answer #8 · answered by Lucy 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree, in greece for example they call food dishes things like stiffado, and kleftiki. We call things Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding with Roas Potatoes, and Minted Lamb with seasonal vegetables and creamed potatoes. We like to describe things in detail, and I reckon its for the avoidance of doubt!!!!
2006-11-27 08:14:14 · answer #9 · answered by MrsMac 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
And here in the US, we are often misunderstood. Americans have made short cuts in the language, but was it really worth it?
2006-11-27 07:42:25 · answer #10 · answered by T Time 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋