May Day and QBI

[sveahk]

Hello,

Reading the book "Rendezvous with Fate" by Raymond Lallement, which is by the way definitely to be recommended, I came upon the following definitions:

May Day comes from the french "M'aidez".
The code "Q" and "Q.B.I." - letters invented by Belgian aviators before the war - stood for "Quel Brouillard Intense!".

The definition for May Day I've heard before but the QBI explanation is new to me.
Anybody like to comment...?

Greetings
Hans

[Nick Beale]

From what I remember from school, "m'aidez" would be incorrect French grammar, it should be "aidez-moi".

[John Vasco]

Nick,

Ah but, ah but, ah but... if it was taken from part of a fuller sentence, such as "Pouvez vous m'aidez', then it would be OK. And doesn't "aidez-moi" mix singular and plural? I'm thinking "Aidez-nous", n'est-ce pas? I feckin' hate French, as well...

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by John Vasco

Nick,

Ah but, ah but, ah but... if it was taken from part of a fuller sentence, such as "Pouvez vous m'aidez', then it would be OK. And doesn't "aidez-moi" mix singular and plural? I'm thinking "Aidez-nous", n'est-ce pas? I feckin' hate French, as well...

Good point re it being an extract from a longer and more polite request, mon brave, but - speaking with all the authority of a Grade A at A-Level (1969) - not so good re mixing singular and plural. "Aidez" in this context is a second person plural imperative (also used toward individuals with whom one is not on familiar terms). So an appropriate form of address when broadcast into the ether for whoever might hear it. As in "help me, you guys."

If one were seeking help from a friend, it would indeed be "aides-moi."

I don't mind French at all, actually (they gave the world Paris and Sophie Marceau).

[Uncle Sam]

As this is about May Day and France, ironically Mr Jean-Marie Le Pen chooses it as his speech day and honor day for Joan of Arc. Strange that it's on a commie holiday. Perhaps he's trying to mock it? LOL!

K

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Uncle Sam

Strange that it's on a commie holiday.

K

Except it isn't. May Day is a celebration of Spring which across Europe embodies many pre-Christian elements. Look up "Padstow 'Obby 'Oss" on Google for one example (and, if you know nothing of English folklore, culture shock is in store).

May Day was later adopted as a workers' holiday and communism jumped on the bandwagon. Even Americans have Labor Day (they just go their own sweet way with the date).

[fsbofk]

. . . which isn't even on a designated date, but rather the first Monday in September (love those 3-day weekends !)

[Kurt Braatz]

The pretended QBI origin is wrong, definitely. QBI as an abbreviation is part of the so-called Q groups - a number of 3-letter-codes which were largely in use when airborne radio equipment could not transmit human speech, but only morse code. Some Q-groups are still common today in aviation: QNH is standard pressure, QFE is pressure at a given location, QDM is heading to a radio station, QDR is heading from a station, etc.