It does make a difference. If it were a US flight in a foreign country, thenICAO standard phraseology would be expected, and I would agree with you. However, it was not aninternational flight, it was domestic with an FAA Controller and FAA certifiedpilots, using FAA standard phraseology and procedures. As was pointed out, theterm emergency is considered standard and is listed in the Pilot/Controllerglossary. What the crew did was correct; their initial call declaring theemergency was in compliance with FAA phraseology.
It was not that the controller did not hear the emergency and emergencyconditions being stated, it was that the controller did not believe that it wasa real emergency. The controller failed to verify the situation and take theproper action. Stating that had the pilot said "Mayday" as opposed to "Emergency" the controller would have somehow come to a different conclusion as to the authenticity of the radio call, given the above facts regarding FAA phraseology, is nonsensical.