ASTM F1583-95(2000)
(Practice)Standard Practice for Communications Procedures-Phonetics
Standard Practice for Communications Procedures-Phonetics
SCOPE
1.1 Establishment of Phonetics--This practice covers the establishment of phonetics (including an alphabet, numerals, and punctuations), and the procedures for their use, in communications.
1.2 Performance--This practice is intended to facilitate the performance of communications personnel and systems under adverse communications conditions. This objective is achieved by employing easily recognized and used symbols and procedures that are highly resistant to errors. This system may be used with speech, print, or other media.
1.3 Interoperability--This practice is intended to facilitate the interoperability of communications personnel and systems among different organizations, especially if they use different internal practices. This system is also recommended for use within any organization for improved internal communications and uniformity of operations.
1.4 English--as Common LanguageThis practice is intended for use with English. English has been designated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and others as a common interoperability language that is widely used in search and rescue, emergency, and international operations such as aviation, maritime, and military.
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Designation: F 1583 – 95 (Reapproved 2000)
Standard Practice for
Communications Procedures—Phonetics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1583; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2.3 error correcting code—a code in which each symbol
conforms to specific rules of construction so that departures
1.1 Establishment of Phonetics—This practice covers the
from this construction in the received signals can generally be
establishment of phonetics (including an alphabet, numerals,
automatically detected and corrected. If the number of errors is
and punctuations), and the procedures for their use, in com-
not greater than the maximum correctable threshold of the
munications.
code, all errors are corrected.
1.2 Performance—This practice is intended to facilitate the
2.4 error correcting system—in information transmission, a
performance of communications personnel and systems under
system employing either forward error correction or automatic
adverse communications conditions.This objective is achieved
repeat-request techniques or both, such that most transmission
by employing easily recognized and used symbols and proce-
errors are automatically removed from the data prior to
dures that are highly resistant to errors. This system may be
delivery to the user.
used with speech, print, or other media.
2.5 forward error correction (FEC)—a system of error
1.3 Interoperability— This practice is intended to facilitate
control for information transmission wherein the receiving
the interoperability of communications personnel and systems
station has the capability to detect and correct any character or
among different organizations, especially if they use different
message that contains fewer than a predetermined number of
internal practices. This system is also recommended for use
symbols in error.
within any organization for improved internal communications
2.6 interoperability—the condition achieved among com-
and uniformity of operations.
munications stations or personnel when information can be
1.4 English as Common Language—This practice is in-
exchanged directly and satisfactorily between them or their
tended for use with English. English has been designated by
users or both. It is desirable that the exchanges are error free,
the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and
rapid, and automatic.
others as a common interoperability language that is widely
2.7 phonetics—a system of symbols and procedures that is
used in search and rescue, emergency, and international opera-
used to control errors in communications, validate selected
tions such as aviation, maritime, and military.
parts of messages, and enhance the interoperability and perfor-
2. Terminology mance of communications personnel and systems.
2.8 phonetic alphabet—a selected set of phonetic symbols
2.1 The terminology used in this practice is derived from
2,3
that has a one-to-one correspondence to the set of individual
references (1-10).
letters in a language. Also, any of various systems of code
2.2 automatic repeat-request (ARQ)—a system of error
words for identifying letters in voice communications.
control for information transmission in which the receiving
2.9 phonetic punctuation—a selected set of phonetic sym-
station is arranged to detect a transmission error and automati-
bols that has a one-to-one correspondence to the set of
cally transmit a repeat-request signal to the transmitting
individual punctuation in a language.
station. The transmitting station then retransmits the message
2.10 phonetic numerals—a selected set of phonetic symbols
until it is either correctly received or the error persists beyond
that has a one-to-one correspondence to the set of individual
a predetermined number of transmittals.
numerals in a language.
2.11 phonetic symbol—a unique word or combination of
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F32 on Search and
letters that is used as a substitute for, or an addition to, a
Rescue and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F32.07 on Communications
specific letter, numeral, or punctuation in a language. It has the
and Electronics.
characteristics of an error correcting code.
Current edition approved March 15, 1995. Published April 1995.
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of
3. Summary of Practice
this practice.
This practice is based on an extensive survey of multiple organizations. Their
3.1 Interoperability and Performance—A set of easily rec-
communications documents were consulted to determine or verify compliance and
ognized and used symbols and procedures are established.
interoperability among their many known and accepted phonetic systems. These
documents are hereby referenced. They are used to control the errors that may be encountered in
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F 1583
messages, to validate selected parts of messages, and to the information, such as an additional copy (or copies). The
enhance the interoperability and performance of communica- copy(ies) may be received error free or with correctable errors
tions personnel and systems. This phonetic system is intended (especially when compared with previous copy(ies)).
to be directly interoperable with the majority of standard 4.6 Use of Non-standard Systems—This phonetic system is
phonetic systems presently employed, both internationally and notintendedtoprohibittheuseofnon-standardbrevityorerror
within the United States. control systems that are used only internally within any single
3.2 Error Control— Error control is accomplished by de- organization. It also does not preclude the use of additional
tection of the errors and either prompt correction (based on the methods for clarity.
available information) or a request for another copy (if the 4.7 Use of Standard Systems—This phonetic system is
information is inadequate for error correction). intended to be directly interoperable with the majority of
standard phonetic systems presently employed, both interna-
4. Significance and Use
tionally and within the United States, as noted in references
4.1 Communications Errors and Delays—Communications
(1-9). These standard systems actually exhibit many variations
systems,includingtheirproceduresandchannels,aresubjectto
among themselves. Some provide no procedures, and none
errors due to noise, interference, weak signals, mistakes, and
include all of the symbols presented herein. Of all these known
other causes. They are also subject to delays due to the
documents, this practice is the only one that presents an
necessity to detect and correct these errors. There may also be
explanation of the phonetic system in terms of modern com-
errors and delays due to the lack of trained and experienced
munications technology. To achieve interoperability and per-
operators.
formance through bona fide standardization, system adminis-
4.2 Error Control— Phonetics enables the control of errors
trators should consider this comprehensive practice for
through error detection, and usually prompt correction, for
superseding, or revising, these other standard systems.
words and characters in speech and printed text. It employs an
5. Procedure
error correcting system of symbols and procedures that are
standardized and easily recognized under adverse or high error
5.1 Phonetic Alphabet:
communications conditions.
5.1.1 Phonetic Alphabet and Pronunciations—Table 1 pre-
4.3 Symbol Characteristics—The phonetic alphabet is an
sents the phonetic alphabet and the pronunciations used in this
error detecting and correcting code composed of phonetic
practice.
symbols that are carefully selected to have distinctive sounds
5.1.2 Usage of Phonetic Alphabet—Phonetic alphabet sym-
or appearances (or other unique characteristics) that improve
bols are inserted in text that may be spoken, printed, or
detection under adverse conditions (such as severe noise or
otherwise communicated.
high errors) and enhance differentiation from each other.
NOTE 1—Examples of the usage of the phonetic alphabet in spoken and
4.3.1 Phonetics are inherently language-dependent. For En-
printedtextareprovidedinthesectionsbelow.Theword(s)tobevalidated
glish text letters, there are 26 phonetic alphabet symbols, that
are in bold for clarity. Phonetic pronunciations are included for speech,
correspond to the 26 letters (from A to Z) that may be used to
with a“ pause” as indicated:
compose the words in a message.Additional symbols are used
for numerals and punctuations.
TABLE 1 Phonetic Alphabet and Pronunciations
4.3.2 Phonetic symbols (including an alphabet, numerals,
A
Letter Symbol Pronunciation
and punctuation) must have unique characteristics as men-
A ALFA “AL-fah”
tioned above, and they should not be restricted to only one
B BRAVO “BRAH-voh”
communications media. C CHARLIE “CHAR-lee”
D DELTA “DELL-tah”
4.4 Procedures for Error Detection and Correction:
E ECHO “ECK-oh”
4.4.1 Phonetic communications procedures are used to
F FOXTROT “FOKS-trot”
G GOLF “GOLF”
minimize or eliminate information errors and to facilitate the
H HOTEL “hoh-TELL”
correct transmission of messages using trained operators.
I INDIA “IN-dee-ah”
4.4.2 The phonetic procedures are carefully structured to
J JULIET “JEW-lee-ETT”
enable symbol differentiation and error detection based on K KILO “KEY-loh”
L LIMA “LEE-mah”
simple examination of the received data. Using forward error
M MIKE “MIKE”
correction (FEC), in most cases the symbols can be identified,
N NOVEMBER “no-VEM-ber”
and the errors can be corrected promptly with no additional O OSCAR “OSS-cah”
P PAPA “pah-PAH”
information.
Q QUEBEC “keh-BECK”
4.4.3 FEC is based on the error detection system, which is
R ROMEO “ROW-me-oh”
S SIERRA “see-AIR-rah”
usually the more robust of the two. Essentially, in certain poor
T TANGO “TANG-go”
conditions, it is possible to detect errors even though they may
U UNIFORM “YOU-nee-form”
not be correctable (at the moment).
V VICTOR “VIK-tah”
W WHISKEY “WISS-key”
4.5 Procedures for Retransmission—In most cases, prompt
X XRAY “ECKS-ray”
error detection and correction is achievable through FEC. If
Y YANKEE “YANG-key”
this is not possible or acceptable, manual or automatic repeat-
Z ZULU “ZOO-loo”
request (ARQ) is employed. The process of error detection can A
The pronunciations are in quotes and CAPITAL letters to indicate the verbal
be used to initiate theARQ and therefore the retransmission of emphasis.
F 1583
5.1.2.1 Phonetic Alphabet in Speech—For speech, the pho- (2) As a continued example, the phrase might have been
netic alphabet symbols are placed adjacent to the word(s) that received as follows (with errors “ + ”):
are spelled, as follows: “.1+ndmed+v+cat+i+(JUL+E+ + NDIA M + KE)
a+d+ob(BR+VO+ SCAR B + AVO) S + reets fo + .”
(1) Use the word(s) to be spelled;
Examination of the capitalized phonetic symbols that were
(2) Add “I SPELL” (which indicates the start of phonetics);
received (even with errors) enable error correction of the
(3) Spell the word(s) using the phonetic alphabet symbols
essential words.
(with a pause between spelled word(s));
5.2 Phonetic Numerals:
(4) Again use the word(s) that were spelled (which indicates
5.2.1 Phonetic Numerals and Pronunciations—Table 2 pre-
the end of phonetics);
sents the phonetic numerals and the pronunciations that shall
(5) Return to normal words for the spoken text that follows.
be used in this practice.
5.1.2.2 For single letters in speech, such as initials in a
5.2.2 Modified Numbers and Sequences—Certain specific
name, the phonetic alphabet symbols replace the letter(s) that
numbers or combinations that are easily misunderstood, such
are spelled, as follows:
as those ending with “teen” and “ty”, shall not be used. They
(1) Note and replace (but do not use) the letter(s); shallbemodifiedforclarityandshallbe“spelledout”asdigits,
as presented in Table 3.
(2) Add “INITIALS” (which indicates the start of phonet-
ics); 5.2.3 Usage of Phonetic Numerals—Phonetic numeral sym-
bols are inserted in text that may be spoken, printed, or
(3) Spell the replaced letter(s) using the phonetic alphabet
otherwise,andtheymaybemixedwithlettersandpunctuation.
symbols (with a pause between spelled letter(s));
Examples of the usage of the phonetic numerals in spoken and
(4)Returntonormalnameorwords(whichindicatestheend
printed text are provided in the sections below. The number(s)
of phonetics) and continue with the spoken text that follows.
to be clarified or validated are in bold for clarity. Phonetic
5.1.2.3 Phonetic Alphabet in Speech, Examples:
pronunciations are included for speech, with a “pause”as
(1) As an example, the phrase
indicated:
(. respond emergency to Xylon St. for a .)
5.2.3.1 Phonetic Numerals in Speech—For speech, the pho-
would be spoken as follows:
netic numeral symbols replace the number(s) that are clarified
“. respond emergency to Xylon pause I SPELL pause
or validated, as follows:
ECKS-ray, YANG-key, LEE-mah, OSS-cah, no-VEM-ber
(1) Note and replace (but do not use) the number(s);
pause Xylon pause
(2)Add“FIGURES”(whichindicatesthestartofphonetics);
Street for a .”
(3) “Spell” the replaced number(s) using individual phonetic
(2) As an additional example, the phrase
numeral symbols (with a pause between “spelled” number(s));
(. reported sight of D.B. Cooper near .)
(4) Return to normal words (which indicates the end of
would be spoken as follows: phonetics) and continue with the spoken text that follows.
“.reportedsightof pauseINITIALSDELL-tah pauseBRAH-
5.2.3.2 Phonetic Numerals in Speech, Examples:
voh pause Cooper near .”
(1) As an example, the phrase
(. subject license tag is Virginia 930FXZ .)
5.1.2.4 Phonetic Alphabet in Print—For print, the phonetic
alphabet symbols are placed (as capital letters) within paren-
theses adjacent to the word(s) that are spelled, as follows: would be spoken as follows:
“ . subject license tag is Virginia pause FIGURES pause
(1) Use the word(s) to be spelled;
NIN-er, TREE, ZEE-roh, FOKS-trot, ECKS-ray, ZOO-loo
(2) Add the left parenthesis “(” (which indicates the start of
pause .”
phonetics);
(2) As an additional example, the phrase
(3)Spelltheword(s)usingthephoneticalphabetsymbols(as
(. meet medic unit 10-4 near .)
capital letters if upper/lower case is available) (with a comma
between the spelled words);
(4) Add the right parenthesis “)”
...
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