+ VOICE COMMUNICATIONS -- ITU PHONETICS, WHY? -- by D. W. Thorne,
K6SOJ
The use of ITU phonetics in both tactical and formal message (record)
traffic handling is essential for accurate and efficient communications. (I use
them on a daily basis just to keep in practice.) It is my experience that
some hams simply haven’t ever researched “the why”. Others just
haven’t ever taken the time to learn them.
From the earliest days of radiotelephone communications, several
different “official” phonetic alphabets have been used. During WW II
the British used one version, while the U.S. had another. Others forces had yet
even different phonetic alphabets.
In 1947 the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), adopted
rules and procedures that standardized phonetics. The reason? TO SAVE
LIVES. There are documented incidents where aircraft (and lives) have been lost
as a result of phone traffic being misunderstood or unreadable as a result of
non-standard phonetics and thereby miss-communication between
pilots (usually by those whose primary language was not English) and ground
control stations.
In 1956 the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) adopted the ICAO
phonetic alphabet. Today it is THE worldwide standard for military, naval,
civilian aeronautical and maritime, search and rescue groups, public safety,
(law enforcement being an exception); and...the A.R.R.L.
Below are a few reasons that the ITU Phonetic alphabet is used by proficient EMCOMM and NTS radiotelephone operators:
It is the INTERNATIONAL standard. Operators for whom English is not their primary language can clearly spell out a word that is difficult to copy. Use of standard ITU phonetics is crucial under conditions of weak or poor propagation or interference. I know personally, of an incident, where EMERGENCY traffic (reporting a traffic accident), originated by an operator with a heavy foreign accent operator (who was visiting in the U.S.), calling for assistance on 2 meters FM was bungled, because the responding ham did not understand ITU phonetics.
In handling RADIOGRAMS, or other traffic, a skilled operator that is familiar with ITU phonetics will automatically recognize that a phonetic is NOT part of the text of the message. If non-standard phonetics are used, it may confuse the receiving operator and delay the traffic.
It sounds ”professional” and is efficient.
ITU phonetics with the correct pronunciation:
| A -- Alfa | “AL-FAH” |
| B -- Bravo | “BRAH-VOH” |
| C -- Charlie | “CHAR-LEE” or “SHAR-LEE” |
| D -- Delta | “DELL-TAH” |
| E -- Echo | “ECK-OH” |
| F -- Foxtrot | “FOKS-TROT” |
| G -- Golf | “GOLF” |
| H -- Hotel | “HOH-TELL” |
| I -- India | “IN-DEE-AH” |
| J -- Juliet | “JEW-LEE-ETT” |
| K -- Kilo | “KEE-LOH” |
| L -- Lima | “LEE-MAH” |
| M -- Mike | “MIKE” |
| N -- November | “NO-VEM-BER” |
| O -- Oscar | “OSS-CAH” |
| P -- Papa | “PAH-PAH” |
| Q -- Quebec | “KEH-BECK” |
| R -- Romeo | “ROW-ME-OH” |
| S -- Sierra | “SEE-AIR-RAH” |
| T -- Tango | “TANG-GO” |
| U -- Uniform | “YOU-NEE-FORM” or “OO-NEE-FORM” |
| V -- Victor | “VIK-TAH” |
| W -- Whiskey | “WISS-KEY” |
| X -- X-ray | “ECKS-RAY” |
| Y -- Yankee | “YANG-KEY” |
| Z -- Zulu | “ZOO-LOO” |
Numbers pronunciation:
0 - “ZEE-RO”
1 - “WUN”
2 - “TOO”
3 - “TH-UH-REE” or “TREE”
4 - “FOW-ER”
5 - “FI-IV” or “FIFE”
6 - “SIX”
7 - “SEV-EN”
8 - “ATE” or “A-IT”
9 - “NIN-ER”
DECIMAL = “DAY-SEE-MAL”
ANOMALIES and IDIOSYNCRASIES:
1 - To distinguish “Z” from “C” on phone, it is common practice to say
“zed” (an old British phonetic) for “Z”, especially when saying a call
sign. “Zed” is shorter (one syllable vs. two for “zulu”.) However, in
formal traffic, the ITU: “ZULU” is more correct and proper.
2 - “ROGER” (an early phonetic) is still used for “received” (equivalent
of sending “R” in Morse) - It does NOT mean “yes” or “affirmative”.
It only means: “I have received your message completely.”