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JCC NATO Phonetic Alphabet Question

Discussion in 'Community' started by JediVision, Mar 16, 2021.

  1. JediVision

    JediVision Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Sep 6, 2015
    This probably isn't worthy of its own thread, but I couldn't find any thread for random observations...

    In the NATO phonetic alphabet, isn't "sierra" an astonishingly poor choice to stand in for the letter "S"? The first letter I think of when I hear the word "sierra" is, naturally, the letter "c." It requires a half-second mental adjustment to remind oneself that it stands for the letter "s." Really, wouldn't almost any other word that starts with "s" be a better choice than "c-erra"? It just really grinds my gears.

    Anyway, carry on.
     
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2021
  2. Alpha-Red

    Alpha-Red 18X Hangman Winner star 7 VIP - Game Winner

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    Apr 25, 2004
    Carrying on.
     
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  3. Jedi Knight Fett

    Jedi Knight Fett Chosen One star 10

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    Feb 18, 2014
    Loving the upgrade
     
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  4. dp4m

    dp4m Mr. Bandwagon star 10

    Registered:
    Nov 8, 2001
    My understanding of the phonetic alphabet is they used words that can't be homophones with other words (as in, what you hear is the only word it can be).
     
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  5. I Are The Internets

    I Are The Internets Shelf of Shame Host/SFTC Tiemaster star 9 VIP - Game Winner VIP - Game Host

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    Nov 20, 2012
    At my job, I always say "S as in 'Sam'" if spelling out something.
     
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  6. Darth Guy

    Darth Guy Chosen One star 10

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    Aug 16, 2002
    Can't blame them for being homophones. It was a different time.
     
  7. Lord Vivec

    Lord Vivec Chosen One star 10

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    Apr 17, 2006
    Now that it's solved I'm going to post one of my favorite videos somewhat related to this topic
     
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2021
  8. Boba_Fett_2001

    Boba_Fett_2001 Chosen One star 8

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    Dec 11, 2000
  9. CairnsTony

    CairnsTony Force Ghost star 5

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    May 7, 2014
    First of all, the call signs were invented by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, not NATO, for use by aircraft whose pilots speak languages beyond English. Even though the words are biased towards English, many of them are transferrable to other languages as well. In the case of Sierra, most pilots are not going to make the association with the letter 'C' because that is not how they pronounce that letter, in most cases.
     
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2021
  10. I Are The Internets

    I Are The Internets Shelf of Shame Host/SFTC Tiemaster star 9 VIP - Game Winner VIP - Game Host

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    Nov 20, 2012
    You brought back memories of a much simpler time.
     
  11. AutumnLight91

    AutumnLight91 Jedi Grand Master star 5

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    Jun 17, 2018
    Numbers, if you want to get more complicated, are also different.

    Here are the pronunciations

    One is wun
    Two is two
    Three is tree
    Four is fo-wer
    Five is fife
    Six and seven are normal
    Eight is different but sounds almost the same
    Nine is niner
     
  12. Diggy

    Diggy Chosen One star 8

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    Feb 27, 2013
    Ya Cairns Sunt.
     
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  13. JediVision

    JediVision Jedi Master star 4

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    Sep 6, 2015
    Niner is useful because "nine" and "one" can indeed be confused with each other, but I don't see what practical purpose the others serve.

    In German you say "zwo" instead of "zwei" often even in colloquial speech because "zwei" and "drei" (three) rhyme.
     
  14. Diggy

    Diggy Chosen One star 8

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    Feb 27, 2013
    [​IMG]
     
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  15. AutumnLight91

    AutumnLight91 Jedi Grand Master star 5

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    Jun 17, 2018
    Of all things in German, I remember the numbers. I can see why nine and one could be confusing for European allies or troops in our ranks.

    That and the word in German "Der Igel".
     
  16. CairnsTony

    CairnsTony Force Ghost star 5

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    May 7, 2014
    Just doesn't have the same ring to it...
     
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  17. Ender Sai

    Ender Sai Chosen One star 10

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    Feb 18, 2001
    I always remember M is Mancy.
     
  18. poor yorick

    poor yorick Ex-Mod star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Jun 25, 2002
    They got rid of the old NATO phonetic alphabet because it wasn’t any good anymore. Please use this new one instead. Thank you.

    A—alpha
    B—beta
    C—canoe
    D—Darth Vadar
    E—Amelia Earhart
    F—****ing football
    G—Goddamn it, Shirley, I told you never to call me here
    H—hi
    I—Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Meth
    J—Just Say No
    K—KHAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!
    L—leprosy
    M—tuna melt
    N—taphophobia
    O—Ooh la la
    P—Peepee hahahahaha I said peepee
    Q—Quit telling me what to do with my life
    R—Rat bastard
    S—Silence of the Lambs
    T—Tiamat
    U—Unnapants
    V—Vinyl unnapants
    W—Wait, what
    X—Xavier’s School For Gifted Students
    Y—Why
    Z—Zealously guarding my virginity
     
  19. Obi Anne

    Obi Anne Celebration Mistress of Ceremonies star 8 Staff Member Manager

    Registered:
    Nov 4, 1998
    My last name in Swedish has forced me to learn to spell the beginning of my name in the Swedish phonetic alphabet, not sure I know the complete one.

    It's also a sign of the times that Z nowadays is Zlatan.