Spelling alphabet english telephone code#

As with the zip code in America, the postcode ensures your letter or package reaches you sooner and decreases the chance of it being delivered to the wrong address. If ordering packages or more paperwork in England, you will need to know your unique address postcode. Can I take your surname as well please?Īdewale: Yes, it is spelt A for Alpha, Z for Zulu, I for India, K for Kilo, I for India, W for Whiskey, and E for Echo. That is spelt A for Alpha, D for Delta, E for Echo, W for Whiskey, A for Alpha, L for Lima, and E for Echo. May I spell it for you?Īdewale: My first name is Adewale. It will be in my name which is Adewale Azikiwe.Īdewale: No, not quite.

Spelling alphabet english telephone full#

May I take the full name that will be placed on the card?Īdewale: Yes, of course. Gina: I can certainly help you with that. I would like to apply for one of your gold credit cards, please. Gina speaking, how may I help?Īdewale: Hello. Below is an example conversation using an African name that is tricky to understand over the phone. Some native English speakers may not have much experience with foreign names that are difficult to spell or even pronounce. If you suspect that the person answering your call is having trouble spelling your name, then be sure to spell your name. The list below shows the current system used by police officers across the United Kingdom: We will take a closer look at it, and demonstrate some examples where this spelling alphabet comes in very handy. If a car flees the scene of an accident or a robbery, the police need to circulate the car’s licence plate as soon as possible.įor this article I will be using the British police’s phonetic alphabet. This is because they need to use it very quickly. British police officers spend a great deal of time learning what is known in England as the phonetic alphabet.

Spelling alphabet english telephone driver#

It is essential for services such as the police or ambulance driver dispatches. The use of a spelling alphabet has now spread to many other areas of life. In this new system, the word for “dog” would be spelt out as “Delta,” “Oscar,” “Golf.” During the latter part of 1951, an alphabet came into use which was for the sole purpose of civil aviation. The use of city names was later dropped, and words commonly used in foreign countries were put into use. It was soon realised that a global system was needed that could be used amongst other countries. Over the years this system was revised and improved. As an example, the word “dog” would be spelt out as “Denmark,” “Oslo,” “Gallipoli.” Before World War II, a system of using city names to indicate letters of the alphabet was in common usage. With letters and words being easily confused over the radio, the military came up with an alphabet to resolve the confusion. People working in aviation such as pilots needed to be sure they were flying into the correct territory, and landing on the right map coordinates. The need for a system to make English words clearer in phone conversations is military in origin. London is widely pronounced “Rondon” in Japan and coffee is given a softer sound with the word “Koohii.” It is in situations such as these that a spelling alphabet is of most use.

For Japanese speakers of English the letters F and L are quite difficult to pronounce. The letters N and M are the most easily confused even during phone calls between English native speakers. Many letters in the alphabet can be easily confused.

The use of a spelling alphabet will prevent these problems from happening. You do not want to receive a legal or financial document which is invalid due to being stamped with the wrong name. This could result in a document being sent to you with the name and address incorrect. If you have a name that is difficult to spell or a complicated address, it is easy for the other person to make a mistake. It is very easy for you to be misheard by the person answering the phone. How can you avoid falling into this tedious and time consuming trap? The solution to this audible irritant is to use a spelling system in your phone calls.Įven in the twenty-first century, the quality of telephone calls can often be very poor. The problem with this system is that if your name is spelt wrong, or certain details are incorrect, then the whole process may start from scratch. England is now preferring to complete application forms over the telephone rather than wasting paper by posting documents to applicants.