Shirl:
The question couldn't GET any more basic than that, and even after
asking four times, the guy *did not understand* that it was a
*question*, NOT a clearance.

Thomas Borchert wrote:
Missed that one. Again, there are NO questions asked by changing
inflection in standard phraseology. The proper way would have been
"confirm you have been cleared..." or something like that.

Yes, he could have, but he shouldn't have to rephrase his questions just
to cater to someone who clearly *does not understand* English well
enough to answer a VERY basic question asked of him by an air traffic
controller. The controller is speaking plain, clear English; the pilot
didn't understand him. It's ultimately the controller's responsibility
to handle it, but that doesn't absolve the pilot from the requirement
that he *understands* English.