According to Wikipedia, phonetics is the study of the physical sounds of human speech. It is concerned with the physical properties of speech sounds (phones), and the processes of their physiological production, auditory reception, and neurophysiological perception. Phonetic Alphabet is used when spelling out a word over the phone for better understanding.
It’s not the first time that I have encountered weird Phonetic Alphabet over the phone. Some would use name of countries like; N for New Zealand, B for Berlin, Z for Zimbabwe, etc. I’ve heard even countries or places which I myself don’t even know it exist. Imagine others would spell it out like they’re trying to tell you their family tree; F for father, M for mother, B for brother, etc. Good luck on that. While majority have a tolerable way of spelling out words in their own self-invented Phonetic Alphabet, the rest just can’t seem to make it. Just like when I called a certain Airline the other day to check on a flight booking. I was partly amused on how the agent spelled out the booking reference number to me. Here’s how part of the conversation goes.
Agent: Good afternoon. You’re speaking with Ra!@#%, how can I help you?
Me: Hi! Good afternoon. I’m Ramon and who am I speaking with again?
(it was quite a difficult name to catch)
Agent: My name is Radchatatili (not the agent’s real name), how can I help you Madam?
I didn’t know that my name could pass as a woman’s name and old woman by that. I guess she heard “Ramona”, which happens most of the time. I didn’t bother to correct her because I was rather focused on spelling out her name on my notepad.
Me: Radchatatili, I wanted to check on this booking but I don’t have your booking reference number with me. I have the flight details though. Will you be able to help me?
Agent: Ahhh.. Ok. Can I have the flight number Madam?
Me: It’s on blah blah blah (cannot say the airline) and departing from Singapore to Bangkok
Agent: Ok I see. I have it in front of me now Madam. All flights are confirmed and ticketed.
Me: That’s great. Can I have your booking reference number for this one please? Thanks.
Agent: Ok. It’s Mama, Item, number 2, How, Fuck, Love (not the exact 1st and 3rd alphanumeric of the booking reference)
Me: I’m sorry. What was that again please? M for Mama…
Agent: Yes madam. M for Mama, I for Item, number 2, How, Fuck, Love
I couldn’t help myself, so I put the phone on mute for seconds and giggled out. I can’t believe that she spelled the last 3 letters the way she did. So I had her spelled it out for me twice just to make sure I heard the right words she used. And towards the end of our conversation I thought of repeating it again to make sure it was spelled out correctly.
Me: Ok. So it’s MI2HFL right?
Agent: Yes, that’s right madam.
Me: Thank you so much Radchatatili for your help. That would be all and have a nice day.
Agent: Your welcome and you too Madam have a nice day. Thank you for calling blah blah blah.
I hang up the phone and laughed my heart out. Imagine the F word being used while spelling out a certain word. OMG! If my grandfather had heard her, for sure she would have gotten a lecture of a life time. Or could it be that she said Fox or maybe Fork? But from what I’ve heard, I was sure that she said the F word. It may have sounded funny to me but who knows it may also sound offensive to others.
So I think it’s time to brush up on our Phonetic Alphabet just to make sure that we don’t sound funny or annoying over the phone. Below are tables of accepted and commonly used Phonetic Alphabet and make sure you familiarize them.
NATO Phonetic Alphabet
| Letter | phonetic letter |
| A | Alpha |
| B | Bravo |
| C | Charlie |
| D | Delta |
| E | Echo |
| F | Foxtrot |
| G | Golf |
| H | Hotel |
| I | India |
| J | Juliet |
| K | Kilo |
| L | Lima |
| M | Mike |
| N | November |
| O | Oscar |
| P | Papa |
| Q | Quebec |
| R | Romeo |
| S | Sierra |
| T | Tango |
| U | Uniform |
| V | Victor |
| W | Whiskey |
| X | X-ray |
| Y | Yankee |
| Z | Zulu |
Western Union Phonetic Alphabet
| Letter | phonetic letter |
| A | Adams |
| B | Boston |
| C | Chicago |
| D | Denver |
| E | Easy |
| F | Frank |
| G | George |
| H | Henry |
| I | Ida |
| J | John |
| K | King |
| L | Lincoln |
| M | Mary |
| N | New York |
| O | Ocean |
| P | Peter |
| Q | Queen |
| R | Roger |
| S | Sugar |
| T | Thomas |
| U | Union |
| V | Victor |
| W | William |
| X | X-ray |
| Y | Young |
| Z | Zero |
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