Posted by John Giddy on December 14, 2008 at 20:38:52 user jgiddy.
In Reply to: Re: seating positions in Beckfoot rowing boat posted by Jock on December 14, 2008 at 13:40:46:
Oh Jock !
One can take nautical terminology too far, I think !
How would you rewrite the relevant passage in WH using your rigid convention ?
The whole thing comes down to frames of reference. When describing the seating positions in the boat AR uses nautical terms such as "bow thwart" so we all have a clear picture of where everyone was seated.
However when discussing the care needed to avoid upsetting the new rowers, the frame of reference is the group of four children (the Ds, Tittee and Roger) where normal conventions such as "behind" have, to my mind, an unambiguous and succinct meaning.