In Search of a Lost Language

Byline: Brig (R) Tughral Yamin - E-mail: tyamin57@hotmail.com Logisticians highlight the importance of military supplies by quoting the famous Napoleonic dictum that "Armies march on their bellies." After having spent a lifetime in the army let me underscore the importance of language in the military scheme of things by stating that "Armies move on the word of command." I think no one will disagree with me, when I say that no campaign can be launched without an appropriate and well thought out operational plan, accompanied by a host of contingencies. Neither the support staff can mobilise the required resources, nor the field commanders can maneuver their forces unless, provided clear cut orders and instructions by the general staff based on the commander's intent. Ergo, the importance of the written and the spoken word in military plans.