Editing Colonial wireless alphabet

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. 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 <ref name="bastille">'''Kara Thrace:''' Three assault teams, Alpha, Bravo, Constellation. ([[Bastille Day]])</ref> <ref name="scattered">'''Lee Adama:''' Sierra Alpha, we got a new bogey. ([[Scattered]])</ref> <ref name="rs2">'''William Adama:''' Order batteries alpha through echo to switch to salvo fire. ([[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. ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]])</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. ([[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|'''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 ([[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 ([[Exodus, Part I]])</ref> || {{IPA|ɛks.'ɹeɪ}}
|}

== 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 [[Language in the Twelve Colonies#Spanish Accent|spoken]] in the twelve colonies. Our use of the traditional English spelling here is somewhat arbitrary.
*"[[Wikipedia:Voice procedure|Wilco]]" is not a CWA letter code. It means "will comply", matching its real usage.
*"Colonial wireless alphabet" is a descriptive term, not a [[canon|canonical]] designation.
*While the Colonial wireless alphabet has some terms in common with the NATO phonetic alphabet, there are a few used by NATO which are unlikely to be used by Colonial forces. Specifically, India and Quebec (as they are locations on Earth), Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare lived and wrote on Earth), and Yankee and Zulu (as they refer to specific peoples of Earth).

== Sources ==
<references />

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