Bad Engrish?

Shirl:
I admit, I quoted the wrong reg -- that *is* what the reg says,
verbatim, for a US pilot;

Larry Dighera wrote:
Are you able to identify that particular regulation? I am unaware of
an FAA regulation that requires reading and writing English.

61.103 Eligibility requirements
General.
To be eligible for a private pilot certificate, a person must:
[a, b...]
(c) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language.
If the applicant is unable to meet one of these requirements due to
medical reasons, then the Administrator may place such operating
limitations on that applicant's pilot certificate as are necessary for
the safe operation of the aircraft.

I don't know what it says for a foreign pilot
flying in the US on a foreign certificate. Do you?

In this case:
d. handle successfully and with relative ease the linguistic
challenges presented by a complication or unexpected turn of
events that occurs within the context of a routine work situation
or communicative task with which they are otherwise familiar; and

e. use a dialect or accent which is intelligible to the
aeronautical community.

I doubt anyone would consider "were you cleared to the ramp" to be a
"linguistic challenge" and *could* be a question asked about a VERY
routine communicative task (being cleared to the ramp).

Further:

Therefore, pilots on international flights shall
demonstrate language proficiency in either English or the language
used by the station on the ground. Controllers working on stations
serving designated airports and routes used by international air
services shall demonstrate language proficiency in English as well
as in any other language(s) used by the station on the ground.

The controller speaking to the China Air pilot demonstrated language
proficiency in English; what I heard from the China Air pilot did not --
he couldn't even read back his instruction accurately.

Structu
(Relevant grammatical structures and sentence patterns are
determined by language functions appropriate to the task.)
Basic grammatical structures and sentence patterns are used
creatively and are usually well controlled. Errors may occur,
particularly in unusual or unexpected circumstances, but rarely
interfere with meaning.

Obviously, hearing and understanding "November" when the controller
clearly said "Mike/Alpha" multiple times definitely would have
interfered with meaning if the controller hadn't pursued it to confirm
that the China Air pilot knew where he was supposed to go.

Vocabulary:
Vocabulary range and accuracy are usually sufficient to
communicate effectively on common, concrete, and work-related
topics. Can often paraphrase successfully when lacking vocabulary
in unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Does that apply to the controller, too? Asking "were you cleared to the
ramp?" is just another way to paraphrase "confirm your clearance to the
ramp".

Comprehension:
Comprehension is mostly accurate on common, concrete, and
work-related topics when the accent or variety used is
sufficiently intelligible for an international community of users.
When the speaker is confronted with a linguistic or situational
complication or an unexpected turn of events, comprehension may be
slower or require clarification strategies.

Okay, on this, it could be argued whether or not "were you cleared to
the ramp?" could be considered a "linguistic or situational complication
or an unexpected turn of events"! I sure don't interpret that question
as such ... doesn't seem a question could be much more straightforward
than that about a routine event to an airline pilot after landing.

Interactions:
Responses are usually immediate, appropriate, and informative.
Initiates and maintains exchanges even when dealing with an
unexpected turn of events. Deals adequately with apparent
misunderstandings by checking, confirming, or clarifying.
For information on the complete ICAO language proficiency rating
scale, please refer to the Attachment to Annex 1.

I heard the controller checking, confirming and clarifying, but the
China Air pilot didn't answer the question until the 4th or 5th time he
was asked, and read back the WRONG taxi clearance more than once also.

I'd be surprised if it says or implies that ONLY English "aviation
phraseology" is required.

It seems to imply that in the US, English is required:

Therefore, pilots on international flights shall demonstrate
language proficiency in either English or the language used by the
station on the ground.

Yes, it does. And that clip I heard of the China Air pilot is not what I
would call a demonstration of "language proficiency" in English.

Shirl