Editing Colonial wireless alphabet

The '''Colonial Wireless Alphabet (CWA)'''<ref>{{bsgwiki term}}</ref> 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. At present, only nine have been [[canon]]ically identified.

{| cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" class="messagebox"
|-
! Letter !!align=left| Word !!align=left| Pronunciation
|-
|align=center|'''A'''||Alpha/Alfa <ref>In the NATO phonetic alphabet, "Alpha" is spelled "Alfa," in consideration of Spanish orthography.</ref> <ref name="bastille">'''Kara Thrace:''' Three assault teams, Alpha, Bravo, Constellation. {{TRS|Bastille Day}}</ref> <ref name="scattered">'''Lee Adama:''' Sierra Alpha, we got a new bogey. {{TRS|Scattered}}</ref> <ref name="rs2">'''William Adama:''' Order batteries alpha through echo to switch to salvo fire. {{TRS|Resurrection Ship, Part II}}</ref> || {{IPA|ˈæl.fə}}
|-
|align=center|'''B'''||Bravo <ref name="bastille" /> <ref name="hog">'''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. {{TRS|The Hand of God (RDM)}}</ref> || {{IPA|ˈbɹɑ.voʊ}}
|-
|align=center|'''C'''||Constellation <ref name="bastille" /> <ref name="hog" /> <ref name="mini">'''Galen Tyrol:''' If the commander will take a closer look at the tail numbering... Nebula Seven Two Four Two Constellation. {{TRS|Miniseries}}</ref> || {{IPA|ˌcɑn.stə.ˈleɪ.ʃən}}
|- 
|align=center|'''D'''||Delta <ref name="hog" /> || {{IPA|ˈdɛl.tə}}
|- 
|align=center|'''E'''||Echo <ref name="rs2" /> || {{IPA|ˈɛ.koʊ}}
|-
|align=center|'''G'''||Gamma <ref name="razor"> This is part of [[Kendra Shaw]]'s access code, which she gives to [[Gina Inviere]] {{TRS|Razor}}.</ref> || {{IPA|ˈgamə}}
|-
|align=center|'''N'''||Nebula <ref name="hog" /> <ref name="mini" /> || {{IPA|ˈnɛb.ju.lə}}
|-
|align=center|'''S'''||Sierra <ref name="scattered" /> || {{IPA|si.ˈɛɹˌɹə}}
|-
|align=center|'''T'''||Tango <ref name="finalcut">'''Grayshirt:''' Tango 1, Tango 1, Tango 1, weapons close 2-4-1 {{TRS|Final Cut}}</ref> || {{IPA|tăng'gō}}
|-
|align=center|'''X'''||X-ray <ref name="exodus">'''Saul Tigh:''' Cally's in a group heading for map coordinates X-ray Seven {{TRS|Exodus, Part I}}</ref> || {{IPA|ɛks.'ɹeɪ}}
|}

== Notes ==

*"[[Wikipedia:Voice procedure|Wilco]]" is not a CWA letter code. It means "will comply," matching its real usage.
*While the Colonial wireless alphabet borrows from the NATO phonetic alphabet, there are exceptions because they have Earth-specific references and are unlikely to be known to the Colonials. Examples: India and Quebec (Earth locations), Romeo and Juliet (Shakespearean characters), and Yankee and Zulu (regional and ethnic groups of Earth).
*The [[Battlestar Galactica Role Playing Game|''Battlestar Galactica'' Role Playing Game]] includes a complete listing of the wireless alphabet, though the full list has not been verified as canon.  The additions supplied by the game are as follows (direct analogues to the NATO phonetic alphabet marked with an asterisk):


{| cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" class="messagebox"
|-
! Letter !!align=left| Word !!align=left|
|-
|align=center|'''F'''||Foxtrot*
|-
|align=center|'''H'''||Hotel*
|-
|align=center|'''I'''||Icon
|-
|align=center|'''J'''||Juno
|-
|align=center|'''K'''||Kilo*
|-
|align=center|'''L'''||Logo
|-
|align=center|'''M'''||Meteor
|-
|align=center|'''O'''||Oscar*
|-
|align=center|'''P'''||Papa*
|-
|align=center|'''Q'''||Quasar
|-
|align=center|'''R'''||Rho
|-
|align=center|'''U'''||Uniform*
|-
|align=center|'''V'''||Victor*
|-
|align=center|'''W'''||Whiskey*
|-
|align=center|'''Y'''||Yellow
|-
|align=center|'''Z'''||Zephyr
|-
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial Military]]
[[Category:Colonial Military (RDM)]]
[[Category:Descriptive terms]]
[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Terminology (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]