Radio operators usually substitute the expressions 'dits' and 'dahs' for the dots and dashes which resemble the tones of the telegraphic hand key when 'speaking' the code. The letters of the alphabet in Morse code are represented by dots and dashes in the chart below. The pronunciation for each letter's phonetic word is contained in the parenthesis below it. The phonetic alphabet, a system set up in which each letter of the alphabet has a word equivalent to avoid mistaking letters that sound alike, such as B (Bravo) and D (Delta) or F (Foxtrot) and S (Sierra). The Phonetic Alphabet is used widely in military maritime communications. Three methods of basic communications used by the militaries of NATO are via the Phonetic Alphabet, Morse Code, and Signal Flags, all three of which are based in the English alphabet. For the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), English was chosen as the standard language. Using a single language does not eliminate the possibility of linguistic misunderstandings, but does greatly reduce the risks using multiple languages may pose.

For allied militaries to communicate effectively and in a timely manner, those entities need to understand a single language.

Symbolism of letter h