ITU Phonetic Alphabet

 ITU Phonetic Alphabet 

The phonetic alphabet is a system in which letters of the alphabet are identified using some code words. This is done to reduce confusion.

In the world of amateur radio use, the ITU phonetic alphabet is used by amateur radio operators to spell out callsigns under poor network reception.

The ITU phonetic alphabet is rarely used in FM radio bands due to the clarity of the audio quality. It is, however, extensively used in the HF bands (VHF and UHF) because of the lower audio quality.

History Of ITU Phonetic Alphabet

In 1886, the International Phonetic Association was formed in Paris. It was a body that dealt with phonetic transcription.

The International Phonetic Alphabet was made after the formation of the International Phonetic Association. This International Phonetic Alphabet was unveiled to the Phonetic Teacher’s Association in 1888.

In 1889, the phonetic alphabet underwent major revisions by the Journal of the International Phonetic Association, an organ of the International Phonetic Association.

In the 1890s, due to the consideration of non-European languages, the phonetic alphabet was expanded.

During the 1900s, publications outlining the standards agreed upon for the phonetic alphabet were published by the International Phonetic Association. They were published to reduce confusion due to the extensive use of the phonetic alphabet across several languages.

The US military has incidents of the use of the phonetic alphabet recorded as early as 1913.

In the 1920s, The International Telecommunication Union developed its own extensive phonetic alphabet. This was the first of the phonetic alphabets to be recognized internationally.

The International Civil Aviation Organization adopted the use of the phonetic alphabet in 1956. This then became the accepted international standard.

In 1965, the NATO phonetic alphabet system was adopted by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union).

In 1989, at a convention held in Kiel by the International phonetic association, discussions were held on how to update the phonetic alphabet and the principles the system was founded and run on. It was here that IPA Numbers were introduced to the phonetic system.