Metaphone
Script function

world.Metaphone

DOC_scripting Read about scripting

Type

Method

Summary

Returns the metaphone code for the supplied word

Prototype

BSTR Metaphone(BSTR Word, short Length);

DOC_data_types View list of data type meanings

Description

Returns a code indicating the "sound" of the supplied word. This is intended for use in a spell checker or similar to find words that sound the same or similar.

For example:

swordfish = SRTF,XRTF
Gammon = KMN
gamon = KMN
gamin = KMN
Cameron = KMRN
bruise = PRS
Bruce = PRS

You supply the word to be converted, and a length indicating the maximum size code you want returned.

This uses the "double metaphone" algorithm written by Lawrence Philips. It returns either a single metaphone (like KMN for Gammon) or two metaphones where an alternative pronunciation could be considered. Thus in the case of "swordfish" you could store that under SRTF or XRTF and consider both sound-alikes. If there is a comma present, then you know you had an alternative returned.

Because of this, if you specify a 4 character length, you might get back 9 characters (two 4-character metaphones, plus a comma).

Apart from the comma, only the following letters will be returned:

0 A F H J K L M N P R S T X

(First one is a zero indicating the "th" sound).

For a fast lookup, you could map each letter into a hex digit and then combine them into a single 16-bit number, eg.

0 = 0
A = 1
F = 2
H = 3
J = 4
K = 5
L = 6
M = 7
N = 8
P = 9
R = A
S = B
T = C
X = D

VBscript example

Note Metaphone ("swordfish", 4)


Lua example

Note (Metaphone ("swordfish"))


Lua notes

The length is optional and defaults to 4.

Also available as utils.metaphone.


Return value

The converted code, or two codes separated by commas.



See Also ...

Topics

DOC_scripting Scripting
DOC_utils Utilities

Functions

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FNC_Base64Encode Base64Encode (Encodes a string using base-64 encoding.)
FNC_ChangeDir ChangeDir (Changes the MUSHclient working directory)
FNC_CreateGUID CreateGUID (Creates a GUID - Global Unique Identifier)
FNC_EditDistance EditDistance (Returns the Levenshtein Edit Distance between two words)
FNC_ErrorDesc ErrorDesc (Converts a MUSHclient script error code into an human-readable description)
FNC_ExportXML ExportXML (Exports a world item in XML format)
FNC_FixupEscapeSequences FixupEscapeSequences (Converts "escape sequences" like \t to their equivalent codes.)
FNC_FixupHTML FixupHTML (Fixes up text for writing as HTML)
FNC_GenerateName GenerateName (Generates a random character name)
FNC_GetClipboard GetClipboard (Gets the clipboard contents)
FNC_GetScriptTime GetScriptTime (Returns the amount of time spent in script routines)
FNC_GetUniqueID GetUniqueID (Creates a unique ID for general use, or for making Plugin IDs)
FNC_GetUniqueNumber GetUniqueNumber (Returns a unique number)
FNC_Hash Hash (Produces a hash (checksum) of a specified piece of text)
FNC_Help Help (Shows help for a script function, or a list of functions)
FNC_ImportXML ImportXML (Imports configuration data in XML format)
FNC_MtRand MtRand (Returns pseudo-random number using the Mersenne Twister algorithm)
FNC_MtSrand MtSrand (Seed the Mersenne Twister pseudo-random number generator)
FNC_ReadNamesFile ReadNamesFile (Loads in a file for generating character names)
FNC_Replace Replace (Replaces one substring with another)
FNC_SetClipboard SetClipboard (Sets the clipboard contents)
FNC_SetStatus SetStatus (Sets the status line text)
FNC_Simulate Simulate (Simulate input from the MUD, for debugging purposes)
FNC_Sound Sound (Plays a sound)
FNC_StripANSI StripANSI (Strips ANSI colour sequences from a string)
FNC_Trace Trace (Trace mode property)
FNC_TraceOut TraceOut (Outputs the supplied message to the world Trace)
FNC_TranslateGerman TranslateGerman (Translate German umluat sequences)
FNC_Transparency Transparency (Sets the transparency of the main MUSHclient window under Windows XP)
FNC_Trim Trim (Trims leading and trailing spaces from a string)

(Help topic: function=Metaphone)

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