The phonetic alphabet really isn't that tough.

[Gothmog]

That's right! In French, J is G, and G is J.

Since hubby is French, now I spell jam "G-A-M."

GAHH!

Actually, no.
J is J
G is G - but is prononced as J in front of certain vowels (i, e, y)

[TOLady]

Alpha
to Zulu

Thanks! I've always wondered about all that...

Cheers - (whiskey)

[auntiem]

I used the US military version after a vet typed it out for me and laminated it.
Just be glad you don't have to talk to Disney reps all the time - their code is annoying as all get out:
A for Ariel
C for Cinderella
M for Mickey
P for Pluto

[Hobbs]

(Australia I think uses the US system)

I would think other country's wouldn't use 'Yankee' for Y, though...British is Yoke, according to my Google search.

[edible_hat]

I would think other country's wouldn't use 'Yankee' for Y, though...British is Yoke, according to my Google search.

The one I learned in Scouts is Yankee. It's the same as the Australian military use and I was lead to believe it's the United Nations standard.

[Pagan]

"Was that a T as in Tango, or P as in Papa?"
"No, T(B..P..E...) T, T"
"Yeah - that's really helped!!"

I had that same conversation tonight at work....on the phone. Made it even better.

Actually, no.
J is J
G is G - but is prononced as J in front of certain vowels (i, e, y)

Exactly what I was going to say. I've got a degree in French and I don't mix up J and G.

[Hobbs]

The one I learned in Scouts is Yankee. It's the same as the Australian military use and I was lead to believe it's the United Nations standard.

Ehehe, you mean NATO, I believe. US system is what NATO uses, which is the standard, then.

[Sonoma]

Sometimes they take you too literally when you use the phonetic alphabet. I had someone faxing in some paperwork to me one day. I gave her my fax #, then told her to send it attention <myfirstname> T. as in Tango for the last initial. When the fax arrived, it came attention: <myfirstname> Tango.

I don't recall changing my last name, but apparently it's now Tango.

[Nashida]

*starts singing* A...B...C...D......W...T....F?

Sorry.XD

Seriously, the alphabet's not that hard. Phonetics aren't that hard either. But apparently putting the two together causes a brain meltdown.

[AdamAnt316]

*starts singing* A...B...C...D......W...T....F?

or:
A-B-C-D...um...X-P-Q!

Hello!

It's a fact!

Seriously, the alphabet's not that hard. Phonetics aren't that hard either. But apparently putting the two together causes a brain meltdown.

I've tried using the phonetic alphabet when talking to my mother over the phone; even when I didn't try to put the two together, and announced the fact that I was going to use it, it still confused the heck out of her.
-Adam

[PepperElf]

I don't recall changing my last name, but apparently it's now Tango.

just as long as you don't run into any Tango hunters.

("tango" is often what they call the human targets, there's even a site called TangoDown)

[Pagan]

I don't recall changing my last name, but apparently it's now Tango.

Well, then you and Dave Tango from "Ghost Hunters" can start a club!

[Sonoma]

or:
A-B-C-D...um...X-P-Q!

Hello!

It's a fact!

27 Helens agree....

We lived for KITH in college.

[Slytovhand]

Does this clear things up a bit? Or just make it more confusing??

World Phonetic Alphabets

Here's a bit of info early on...

This alphabet dates from about 1955 and is approved by the International Civil Aviation Organization, the FAA and the
International Telecommunication Union;

referring to Alpha Bravo Charlie...

Btw, NATO is North Atlantic Treaty Organisation... Australia is a little bit far from the Atlantic - northern or othewise

[Chromatix]

I believe the International Phonetic Alphabet (Alpha Bravo etc.) is very widely used. It has the advantage of being readily understood by any Anglophone with a brain, and many other people have heard of it sufficiently to figure it out.

However it is not universal. Amateur Radio people in particular tend to use older versions of the phonetic alphabets (Able Baker is common), and Finland at least has it's own phonetic alphabet. Germany has used several alphabets over the years - before and during WW2 several names were replaced because they were "too Jewish", but some of them were reinstated after the war.