Colonial wireless alphabet: Difference between revisions

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{{shortcut|CWA}}
{{shortcut|CWA}}


The '''Colonial Wireless Alphabet''' is a means of communicating letters via words, thus permitting clarity when communicating spellings over [[wireless]]. This is similar to the [[Wikipedia:NATO phonetic alphabet|NATO phonetic alphabet]] used for [[Wikipedia:radio|radio]] communications.
The '''Colonial wireless alphabet''' is a means of communicating letters via words, thus permitting clarity when communicating spellings over [[wireless]]. This is similar to the [[Wikipedia:NATO phonetic alphabet|NATO phonetic alphabet]] used for [[Wikipedia:radio|radio]] communications.


The following is a list of words used in the CWA. Those words that are entered into the BSG canon are appropriately indicated via reference links to footnotes.  Those words unlikely are in ''italics'', with appropriate footnotes as to why their usage in the CWA is unlikely.
The following is a list of words used in the CWA. At present, only six have been [[canon]]icaly identified.


At present, only six out of twenty-six have been identified as [[canon]]ical to ''[[Battlestar Galactica]]''.
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; border: 1px #A60003 solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
 
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #461919; border: 1px #a63000 solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|-
|-
! Letter !!align=left| Word !!align=left| Pronunciation
! Letter !!align=left| Word !!align=left| Pronunciation
|-
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:A|A]] || '''''Alfa''''' <br>'''Alpha''' {{ref|1}} ||'''AL''' FAH
|align=center|'''A'''||Alpha {{ref|bastille}}{{ref|scattered}} || {{IPA|ˈæ.lfə}}
|-
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:B|B]] ||'''Bravo''' {{ref|2}} ||'''BRAH''' VOH
|align=center|'''B'''||Bravo {{ref_label|bastille|1|a}} {{ref|hog}} || {{IPA|ˈbɹɑ.voʊ}}
|-
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:C|C]] ||'''Constellation''' {{ref|3}}||''CON'' STELL '''EY''' SHUN
|align=center|'''C'''||Constellation {{ref_label|bastille|1|b}} {{ref_label|hog|3|a}} {{ref|mini}} || {{IPA|ˌcɑn.stə.ˈleɪ.ʃən}}
|-  
|-  
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:D|D]] ||'''Delta''' {{ref|4}}||'''DELL''' TAH
|align=center|'''D'''||Delta {{ref_label|hog|3|b}} || {{IPA|ˈdɛl.tɑ}}
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:E|E]] ||'''Echo''' ||'''ECK''' OH
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:F|F]] ||'''Foxtrot''' ||'''FOKS''' TROT
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:G|G]] ||'''Golf''' ||'''GOLF'''
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:H|H]] ||'''Hotel''' ||HO '''TELL''' <br>HOH '''TELL'''
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:I|I]] ||'''''India''''' {{ref|5}} ||'''IN''' ''DEE'' AH
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:J|J]] ||'''''Juliett''''' {{ref|6}}<br>'''''Juliet''''' ||'''JEW''' ''LEE'' ETT
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:K|K]] ||'''Kilo''' ||'''KEE''' LOH
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:L|L]] ||'''Lima''' ||'''LEE''' MAH
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:M|M]] ||'''Mike''' ||'''MIKE'''
|-
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:N|N]] ||'''Nebula''' {{ref|7}} ||'''NEB''' ''YOO'' LAH
|align=center|'''N'''||Nebula {{ref_label|hog|3|c}} {{ref_label|mini|4|a}} || {{IPA|ˈnɛb.ju.lə}}
|-
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:O|O]] ||'''Oscar''' ||'''OSS''' CAR
|align=center|'''S'''||Sierra {{ref_label|scattered|2|a}} || {{IPA|si.ˈɛɹˌɹə}}
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:P|P]] ||'''Papa''' ||PAH '''PAH'''<br>or '''PAH''' PAH
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:Q|Q]] ||'''''Quebec''''' {{ref|8}} ||KEH '''BECK'''
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:R|R]] ||'''''Romeo''''' {{ref|6}}||'''ROW''' ME OH
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:S|S]] || '''Sierra''' {{ref|9}} ||SEE '''AIR''' RAH <br>SEE '''AIR''' AH
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:T|T]] ||'''Tango''' ||'''TANG''' GO
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:U|U]] ||'''Uniform''' ||'''YOU''' NEE FORM <br>or '''OO''' NEE FORM <font size=-2>(ICAO, ITU)</font>
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:V|V]] ||'''Victor''' ||'''VIK''' TER
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:W|W]] ||'''Whiskey''' ||'''WISS''' KEY
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:X|X]] ||'''X-ray''' ||'''ECKS RAY''' <font size=-2>(ICAO, ITU)</font><br>'''ECKS''' RAY <font size=-2>(FAA)</font>
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:Y|Y]] ||'''''Yankee''''' {{ref|10}} ||'''YANG''' KEY
|-
|align=center| [[Wikipedia:Z|Z]] ||'''''Zulu''''' {{ref|11}} ||'''ZOO''' LOO
|}
|}


== Notes ==
== Notes ==


# {{note|1}} The phoentic letter "alpha" is used by [[Lee Adama]] after detecting the [[Cylon Heavy Raider]] on approach to ''[[Galactica]]'', in "[[Scattered]]".
*In the NATO phonetic alphabet, "Alpha" is spelled "Alfa", in consideration of Spanish orthography. Depending on how literally one interprets certain scenes, Spanish (or a language represented by Spanish) may be [[Language in the Twelve Colonies|spoken]] in the twelve colonies. Our use of the traditional English spelling here is somewhat arbitrary.
#* It is likely that the word is spelled "alpha", which is the English spelling of the first letter in the [[Wikipedia:Greek alphabet|Greek alphabet]], given the Greek influence in the series.  
*"Wilco" is not a CWA letter code. It is used by the Colonials in place of "roger".
#* For reasons why "alfa" is unlikely, see the [[Wikipedia:alfa|alfa]] disambiguation page on Wikipedia.
*"Colonial wireless alphabet" is a descriptive term, not a [[canon|canonical]] designation.  
# {{note|2}} Bravo is used by the [[marine]] strikeforce that boarded the ''[[Astral Queen]]'' in "[[Bastille Day]]".
# {{note|3}} Constellation is used by CPO [[Galen Tyrol]], when reading off the registration number of [[William Adama]]'s old [[Viper|Mark II Viper]] in the [[Mini-Series]]. It is also used by a member of the [[marine]] strikeforce that boarded the ''[[Astral Queen]]'' in "[[Bastille Day]]". ("Constellation team, set.")
# {{note|4}} Delta is used in "[[The Hand of God]]".  
# {{note|5}} India is unlikely as a phonetic spelling of "I", given that it is the [[Wikipedia:India|name of a country]] on [[Earth]].
# {{note|6}} Both Romeo and Juliette/Juliet can be discounted as being used by the Colonials, given that this is a reference to the [[Wikipedia:William Shakespeare|William Shakespeare]] play, ''[[Wikipedia:Romeo and Juliet|Romeo and Juliet]]''.
# {{note|7}} Nebula is used by [[Galen Tyrol]] when reading off the registration number of [[William Adama]]'s old [[Viper|Mark II Viper]] in the [[Mini-Series]].
# {{note|8}} The use of "Quebec" is very unlikely, given that it [[Wikipedia:Quebec|is a province]] in [[Wikipedia:Canada|Canada]], which is on [[Earth]].
# {{note|9}} Sierra is used by [[Lee Adama]] prior to engaging the [[Cylon Heavy Raider]] on approach to ''[[Galactica]]'', in "[[Scattered]]".
# {{note|10}} [[Wikipedia:Yankee|Yankee]] is a slang term used to (1) identify an [[Wikipedia:American|American]] from the [[Wikipedia:U.S. Northeast|northeast United States]], and (2) identify something American by citizens of countries outside the [[Wikipedia:United States of America|United States of America]].
# {{note|11}} Zulu is unlikely for the reasons listed on the [[Wikipedia:Zulu (disambiguation)|Zulu disambiguation page on Wikipedia]]. Zulu is also the name of an [[Wikipedia:Zulu|African tribe]].
 
=== Additional Notes ===
 
* The use of the word "wilco" is unlikely in the CWA.  It is similar to "roger", "over", et al. See both: [[Talk:Colonial Wireless Alphabet]] and [[Wikipedia:Voice procedure|voice procedure]].
* The term "Colonial Wireless Alphabet" and its acronym "CWA" are [[non-canonical]], and are only used by this Wiki to identify the Colonial wireless phonetic alphabet.  


== Sources ==
#{{note|bastille}}{{note_label|bastille|1|a}}{{note_label|bastille |1|b}}'''Kara Thrace:''' Three assault teams, Alpha, Bravo, Constellation. ([[Bastille Day]])
#{{note|scattered}}{{note_label|scattered|2|a}}'''Lee Adama:''' Sierra Alpha, we got a new bogey. ([[Scattered]])
#{{note|hog}}{{note_label|hog|3|a}}{{note_label|hog|3|b}}{{note_label|hog|3|c}}'''Freighter Pilot #1:''' Carrier constellation, jump complete on station, point deacon. Initiate search pattern delta.<br>'''Freighter Pilot #2:''' Ore flight bravo, delta, wilco.<br>'''Freighter Pilot #3:''' Ore flight nebula, delta initiated. ([[The Hand of God]])
#{{note|mini}}{{note_label|mini|4|a}}'''Galen Tyrol:''' If the commander will take a closer look at the tail numbering... Nebula Seven Two Four Two Constellation. ([[Mini-Series]])


[[Category: A to Z]] [[Category: Colonial]] [[Category: Colonial Military]] [[Category: Terminology]] [[Category: RDM]]
[[Category: A to Z]] [[Category: Colonial]] [[Category: Colonial Military]] [[Category: Terminology]] [[Category: RDM]]

Revision as of 23:13, 19 November 2005


The Colonial wireless alphabet is a means of communicating letters via words, thus permitting clarity when communicating spellings over wireless. This is similar to the NATO phonetic alphabet used for radio communications.

The following is a list of words used in the CWA. At present, only six have been canonicaly identified.

Letter Word Pronunciation
A Alpha Template:RefTemplate:Ref [ˈæ.lfə]
B Bravo Template:Ref label Template:Ref [ˈbɹɑ.voʊ]
C Constellation Template:Ref label Template:Ref label Template:Ref [ˌcɑn.stə.ˈleɪ.ʃən]
D Delta Template:Ref label [ˈdɛl.tɑ]
N Nebula Template:Ref label Template:Ref label [ˈnɛb.ju.lə]
S Sierra Template:Ref label [si.ˈɛɹˌɹə]

Notes

  • In the NATO phonetic alphabet, "Alpha" is spelled "Alfa", in consideration of Spanish orthography. Depending on how literally one interprets certain scenes, Spanish (or a language represented by Spanish) may be spoken in the twelve colonies. Our use of the traditional English spelling here is somewhat arbitrary.
  • "Wilco" is not a CWA letter code. It is used by the Colonials in place of "roger".
  • "Colonial wireless alphabet" is a descriptive term, not a canonical designation.

Sources

  1. Template:NoteTemplate:Note labelTemplate:Note labelKara Thrace: Three assault teams, Alpha, Bravo, Constellation. (Bastille Day)
  2. Template:NoteTemplate:Note labelLee Adama: Sierra Alpha, we got a new bogey. (Scattered)
  3. Template:NoteTemplate:Note labelTemplate:Note labelTemplate:Note labelFreighter Pilot #1: Carrier constellation, jump complete on station, point deacon. Initiate search pattern delta.
    Freighter Pilot #2: Ore flight bravo, delta, wilco.
    Freighter Pilot #3: Ore flight nebula, delta initiated. (The Hand of God)
  4. Template:NoteTemplate:Note labelGalen Tyrol: If the commander will take a closer look at the tail numbering... Nebula Seven Two Four Two Constellation. (Mini-Series)
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