SOS
SOS (... --- ... ) is widely thought to be the acronym for 'Save Our Souls'.
However, this is only true to some extent.
This is the true story.
In the beginning of the twentieth century, when radio communication between ships and mainland had only just been introduced, it was decided that an emergency Morse code message should be easy to remember and use. And so, various acronymical codes were thought up.
The first codes to be used were CQD (-.-. --.- -.. ) and, even shorter, CQ (-.-. --.-). These were indeed acronyms, for 'Come quickly, distress', or 'Come quickly, danger' and just 'Come quickly', respectively.
However, as you can see, (-.-. --.- -.. ) and (-.-. --.-) are rather difficult to remember and use. It should be borne in mind that emergency codes may often have to be used by untrained people, and often in panicky situations.
And so, soon a better code was adopted. Not chosen for its alleged acronymical reference, but above all for its simplicity and memorability. It was only a second thought that the words 'Save our souls' or 'Save our ship' might be linked to the newly adopted code.
SOS was (and is) mainly used for Morse communication. In spoken communication the phrase 'Mayday' is used.
If you would like to work out the slow-speed Morse code message that you heard when you started reading, click here.
