The ITU Phonetic Alphabet
- the ITU international phonetic alphabet used for voice radio
communications, and general telecommunications applications
The international phonetic alphabet is widely used for radio
communications and other applications. Its use has come about because of the
need to be able to distinguish letters accurately when spoken over radio
channels where the bandwidth of the audio is limited and there may be
interference. Even when using standard telephone lines letters such as "B" and
"P" for example may sound very different. Many other letters also sound
relatively similar, and particularly over radio communications equipment, it may
be different to distinguish between them.
In order to alleviate the problem, phonetic alphabets have
been sued since the earliest days of radio communication. For many years the one
adopted by the ITU, International Telecommunications Union, has been taken as
the standard, and it si the one that is given below.
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A |
Alpha |
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N |
November |
|
| |
B |
Bravo |
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O |
Oscar |
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| |
C |
Charlie |
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P |
Papa |
|
| |
D |
Delta |
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Q |
Quebec |
|
| |
E |
Echo |
|
R |
Romeo |
|
| |
F |
Foxtrot |
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S |
Sierra |
|
| |
G |
Golf |
|
T |
Tango |
|
| |
H |
Hotel |
|
U |
Uniform |
|
| |
I |
India |
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V |
Victor |
|
| |
J |
Juliet |
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W |
Whisky |
|
| |
K |
Kilo |
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X |
X-ray |
|
| |
L |
Lima |
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Y |
Yankee |
|
| |
M |
Mike |
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Z |
Zulu |
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History of the phonetic alphabet
After the introduction of voice radio communications it was soon realised that
it was easy for letters to be mistaken. However it was only with the advent of
international radio communications in the mid 1920s that the need for
international organisation cooperation was recognised. Asa result of this the
International Telecommunications Union, ITU took on many responsibilities from
allocating callsign blocks for the different countries to gaining agreements on
codes and other standards.
As a result of this work the ITU assembled and adopted the
first internationally recognised alphabet in 1927. This was widely used in early
radio or "wireless" communications of the day. As a result of its use, a number
of weaknesses were discovered and in 1932 it was revised.
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1932 ITU Phonetic Alphabet:
Amsterdam; Baltimore; Casablanca; Denmark;
Edison; Florida; Gallipoli; Havana; Italia; Jerusalem;
Kilogramme; Liverpool; Madagascar; New_York; Oslo; Paris;
Quebec; Roma; Santiago; Tripoli; Upsala; Valencia;
Washington; Xanthippe; Yokohama; Zurich |
During the Second World War, another phonetic alphabet was
devised to be used by the allies. It was introduced around 1941 and was called
the Joint Army / Navy Phonetic Alphabet. This one was used by many, especially
ex-servicemen after the war.
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Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet:
Able; Baker; Charlie; Dog; Easy; Fox;
George; How; Item; Jig; King; Love; Mike; Nan; Oboe;
Peter; Queen; Roger; Sugar; Tare; Uncle; Victor; William;
X-ray; Yoke; Zebra |
After the war there were several phonetic alphabets in use
for radio communication and the then International Air Transport Association
recognised the need for a single one to be used. As a result they presented a
draft version of one to be used in 1947. This was modified after some use and
adopted in 1951. This proved to be unsatisfactory in use and was modified again
in 1956, and soon after this it was adopted by the ITU.
Since then the ITU Phonetic Alphabet has been in widespread
use for all forms of radio communication from shipping to aeronautical and all
forms of professional radio communications to radio hams.
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