^Tutorial 8 - The Phonetic Alphabet\

The Phonetic Alphabet is based on the simple concept that there are $ten
digits\ in our numerical system, and also >ten\ basic >consonant\ phonetic
>sounds\.

For example, think of the letters '<p\' and '<b\'.  When you pronounce the
letter 'p' your lips and tongue are in the same position as when you say the
letter 'b'.  For the purposes of the Phonetic Alphabet, these letters can be
classified as one phonetic sound.

Similarly, think of the letter '|m\'.  When you pronounce '|m'\ you have
your lips together, as if you are going to hum a tune.  No other letter in
the alphabet requires your lips, tongue, and teeth to be in that position
for pronounciation, so the letter '|m\' can be classified as a phonetic
sound on its own.

There are ten groups of basic phonetic sounds, and each group is paired
against one of the ten digits 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0.  The following table
illustrates the groupings, together with some simple memory aids to help you
remember them.#
|Phonetic Sound                         Memory Aid
--------------                         ----------\

^1 = t or d             \- the letter ^t\ has ^one\ downstroke
^2 = n                  \- the letter ^n\ has ^two\ downstrokes
^3 = m                  \- the letter ^m\ has ^three\ downstrokes
^4 = r                  \- the word '^four\' ends in the letter \^r\
^5 = l                  \- the Roman numeral for ^50\ is ^l\
^6 = j,sh,ch,or soft g  \- ^j\ is almost like a ^6\ the other way round.
^7 = k,hard c or hard g \- the letter ^k\ contains two ^7's\, back to back
^8 = f,v,ph             \- a handwritten ^'f'\ and ^8\ both have two loops
^9 = p,b                \- the letter ^p\ is the mirror image of ^9\.
^0 = s, z, or soft c    \- the word '^zero\' begins with the letter ^z\

Vowels have no value in the phonetic alphabet and are disregarded, as are
all the consonants not listed.  They are used simply as 'fillers' when
transposing numbers to words.  For example, the number |32\ translates to
the letters |'m'\ and |'n'\.  Using the filler vowel |'a'\ gives us the word
|'man'\, which immediately transposes back to the number |32\.  Study the
above table carefully, right now, and memorise the rules.  When you think
you know the rules, press Page Down to test yourself on how thoroughly you
have learned them.~