(For some things I have an outstanding memory, like music, films, books, old conversations, etc. But I'm not great at memorizing. I think even just that short string is not so easy to memorize. Not instant anyway.)
- Alpha
- Bravo
- Charlie
- Delta
- Echo
- Foxtrot
- Golf
- Hotel
- India
- Juliet
- Kilo
- Lima
- Mike
- November
- Oscar
- Papa
- Quebec
- Romeo
- Sierra
- Tango
- Uniform
- Victor
- Whiskey
- X-Ray
- Yankee
- Zulu
Update: seems I was wrong about what it's called. It seems Radio Operators Alphabet is better.
Update:
DDD wrote:
More than you want to know here, including the old Royal Navy: Edward-Orange-London-Apples-King-Edward. The pronunciation specifications show how communication can be very accurate despite the most appalling conditions (static, sirens, thunder, crashing waves, background noise, mortar fire, rockets gunfire, bombs, etc.)
What you should try for the fun of it, is to consume a lot of the forth from the bottom and then try to order over the phone speaking as quickly as you can. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI like that.
ReplyDeleteNot the drink, but the character on Dollhouse.
Well, all the girls were niiice.
... Sierra... the slinky darling. Mmm.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of it referred to as the 'navy' alphabet before ... Police / Nato / phonetic ... the list goes on, but never Navy! :-)
ReplyDeleteThat's what I remembered it as, and it did indeed turn up on google, so at least a few people must use that term also.
ReplyDeleteI tried to introduce this where I worked, because every morning we had a conference call where we reported problems with programs that might be named something like BS0409. About a quarter of each meeting was spent trying to clarify the program names.
ReplyDeleteMy suggestion was rejected as unprofessional, because someone thought it sounded like we were pretending to be spies or astronauts or something.
Someone also said I only suggested it because the code for "M" was "Mike." Got me.
That's so lame.
ReplyDeleteThere is an iPhone app that imitates the good old flash card technique. Probably works on iPad too. I don't remember the app's name but it shouldn't be too difficult to find.
ReplyDeletewell in my country we usually use female names for spelling difficult words; don't you think it would be more your style to say: Eva, Olga, Lisa, Anna, Karen, Eva? :)
ReplyDeleteSeems I was wrong about what it's called. It seems Radio Operators Alphabet is better.
ReplyDeleteA couple nice things about this: it works even when you're talking to someone who doesn't know it. Also, it works even if you haven't fully mastered it yourself.
ReplyDeleteIf you forget the code for a particular letter, just use a word that starts with that letter. Can't remember Bravo? Use Bongo. Forgotten Sierra? Use Sunset.
Bongo Sunset was for "Business Systems," in case you were thinking it meant something else.
I think the weakest one is "Lima". I would have used, oh, "London" I guess. But you're right, it does work for all.
ReplyDeleteMore than you want to know here, including the old Royal Navy: Edward-Orange-London-Apples-King-Edward. The pronunciation specifications show how communication can be very accurate despite the most appalling conditions (static, sirens, thunder, crashing waves, background noise, mortar fire, rockets gunfire, bombs, etc.)
ReplyDelete---delta delta delta
Denver DareDevil: Thanks, buddy.
ReplyDeleteHmm... used it for 20 years in the US Army but we called it the phonetic alphabet. I still use it for ESL peeps.
ReplyDeleteI personally use the Alpha Bravo version, but I have a few buddies who were radio engineers who use Able Baker instead.
ReplyDeleteSierra was instantly appealing, well I guess not when was strapped to the bench getting converted, but when she came to Echo's aid and cleaned up the kidnappers. Still you only really fall in love when you meat Pria (you are on season 2 by now?)
I've only just ordered season two.
ReplyDeleteI was sometimes lukewarm on the show (though many things I liked), but season two has high reviews on Amazon, so I ordered it.
I learned that radio operators' alphabet when I got my pilot's licence many years ago. However my father learned a different one in the RNVR during WWII - I don't recall all the letters, can anyone help? It obviously wasn't serious . . .
ReplyDeleteAphorism
Beef or mutton
C (S)eaforth highlanders
Deaf or dumb
Eva brick
Effervescent
G for ?
H for?
I vor Cutler (old BBC radio comedian)
J for?
K for?
Hell (L) for Leather
M for?
N for
O for the wings of a dove
P for ?
Q for almost everything during rationing
R for (Arthur) Askey
S for?
Tea for two
U for?
V for Victory
W for?
Y for (Wife or) mistress. . .
X for ?
Zed for?
"Oranges & London Apples for King Edward"? Sounds like wartime code to confuse the nazis!
ReplyDelete"My suggestion was rejected as unprofessional, because someone thought it sounded like we were pretending to be spies or astronauts or something."
Yeah, all of 'em people famous for their lack of professionalism! LOL
"It seems Radio Operators Alphabet is better."
Ten-four, Hotel Quebec Edward Fruity. Over.
"I think the weakest one is "Lima"."
Well, it SOUNDS clear enough, so I guess this is why they kept it.
Actually, Lima beans make you fart rather powerfully... right, Josie? (^_^)
"how communication can be very accurate despite the most appalling conditions (static, sirens, thunder, crashing waves, background noise, mortar fire, rockets gunfire, bombs, etc.)"
We Lebanese know the worst of all appalling conditions: summer neighbor's parties!
Not really exagerating... sometimes, I miss the good old relative CALM of the war. :-P
Hey, that's not Denver DareDevil! I recognise that classy-looking profile. Isn't this Dignified Daddy Disraeli? Or Differential Digitations Descartes? Unless it was Decidedly Desocialized Diogenes...
Some famous classic guy from high school, I'm sure. The beard doesn't lie. "I swear on this goatee!"
For CalgaryMark:
ReplyDeletehttp://thurly.net/p1r