world.Metaphone

MUSHclient script function (Method) — introduced in version 3.81

Returns the metaphone code for the supplied word

Prototype

BSTR Metaphone(BSTR Word, short Length);

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.