[SMCARA] hihi !!!

[Larry Norris]

hi hi - ha ha (laughter)
"hi hi" is the Morse equivalent of a laugh as in Morse it sounds like 
someone chuckling ("hehhehhehheh hehheh"). That is ditditditdit dit dit ---  
or dot dot dot dot dot dot. You really have to listen to it sent in Morse to 
appreciate its laugh like sound. It is most commonly used in CW (Morse 
Code), but has carried over to voice as well. Many CW expressions have 
carried over to voice -- such as 73 (Best Regards) and 88 (love and Kisses), 
etc. The origin probably dates back before radio to the telegraph days. And 
since Hams used Morse long before voice became practical-- the sound of the 
Morse characters HI HI was used to resemble a laugh sound. In some sense it 
is equivalent of a smiley. It's onomatopoeic -- that is the naming of a 
thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it (as 
buzz, hiss) The definitive answer might be found in the "Dodge's The 
Telegraph Instructor Manual" circa 1850 to 1900. However, I have never been 
able to find a copy of this document. Wish I could as it would help to see 
the transitions from telegraph to radio usage.So that is my best guess --  
based on what old time telegraphers have told me .
Larry Norris
N3JTN  Ham
KAE-4617 GMRS
Leonardtown,Md
A bad day  playing radio is ALWAYS better than a good day working