2007-08-11 10:39:44 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
Save Our Souls
2007-08-11 10:45:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
It doesn't really mean anything. It's Morse code that goes
- - - — — — - - -
Sometimes spoken dit-dit-dit dah-dah-dah dit-dit-dit.
It was chosen for it's easy recognizability. Even if you don't know anything else about Morse code, you can remember that.
The association of things like Save Our Ship or Save Our Souls with this code is called a "backronym." In an acronym, the initial letters of a phrase are used to form letters, such as SCUBA = Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. In this case, the phrase Save Our Ship was used to remind the sender of the code. We know in fact that SOS doesn't stand for any of these, because it was developed as a code in Germany, where Save Our Ship would be abbreviated AUS.
SOS replaced CQD ( — - — - — — - — — - - ) early on in the history of radio, although the change was slow. In fact, although SOS was officially adopted in 1906, when when the Titanic was sinking, Jack Phillips, the radio man, sent both CQD and SOS.
2007-08-11 10:57:26 · answer #2 · answered by TychaBrahe 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It can mean any number of things, but it always means HELP! The reason for this is that, in Morse code (the dots and dashes for letters) SOS is the easiest, most recognizable set of letters, being "... --- ..." If you hear that on your line, being tapped on a pipe, beeped on your radio, over and over, you know the sender is in deep, and needs help NOW.
Save our ship is popular, but save our souls works too. Remember that it isn't so much an acronym for anything as it is easy to remember and recognize, when you need to.
It was popularized in the beginning of he telegraph age, when Morse code and the telegraph were the only means of remote communication.
Nice answer, Tycha. Better than mine!
2007-08-11 10:56:19 · answer #3 · answered by eine kleine nukedmusik 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Save Our Souls
2007-08-11 10:49:42 · answer #4 · answered by Jophepha 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
SOS means "Save Our Ship."
It is the International Distress Signal in Morse Code.
(...---... 3 dots, 3 dashes, 3dots)
If you need more information or history on SOS, I suggest trying Wikipedia
2007-08-11 10:53:54 · answer #5 · answered by MysticalNights 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
SOS started being used because the usual morse codes for sending a "M'aidez" (mayday) had a letter that just had one dot, which could be easy to miss. So the Germans in WWII started using the pattern ... --- ... to indicate distress. It was basically so that it would be definitely heard as a distress signal, because one dot could easily be missed in a transmission.
2007-08-11 10:49:33 · answer #6 · answered by Serena 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Save Our Souls - started by sailors a loooong time ago.
2007-08-11 10:51:32 · answer #7 · answered by butterfly_prin 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
When you fart you say it as a warning, Scatter or suffocate
2007-08-14 04:30:50 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
save our ship or save our soul I'm not sure
2007-08-11 10:46:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
save our souls...its a "call for help"
2007-08-11 10:51:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋