Soundex: Difference between revisions

Soundex is based on the classification of letters of the alphabet (consonants) into six sound-alike key letter groups. For example, in many languages the '''B''' and '''V''' sounds are nearly interchangeable; as are '''B''' and '''P'''; and '''V''' and '''F'''. So the first phonetic group of key letter consonants is '''b, f, p, v'''. Vowels are fluid and disregarded, as are '''H''' and '''W'''. By giving the same value to key letter consonants that often sound alike, the index brings names together that would usually be pronounced alike with little regard to their actual spelling. Each sound-alike group of key letter consonants is assigned a number. Each family name is assigned a Soundex code that has the initial letter of the name followed by exactly three of the sound-alike key letter group numbers. For example, '''''Stewart''''' = S363 and '''''Stuart''''' = S363.  

*The letter is always the first letter of the name. For example, '''Clausen''' = C425, and '''Klausen''' = K425.  

*Zeroes are added at the end if necessary to produce a four-character code. Excess letters are disregarded if they would produce a code longer than four-characters. For example '''Lee''' = L000, and '''Christopherson''' = C623.

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*'''Double key letters''' should be treated as one letter. For example, '''Gutierrez''' = G362.  

*'''Side-by-side letters with the same code number''' should be treated as one letter. For example, '''Campbell''' = C514, and '''Jackson''' = J250, and '''Pfister''' = P236.  

*'''Vowel key letter seperators.''' If a vowel ('''a, e, i, o, u, y''') separates key letters that have the same code number, those key letters should be treated as two letters. For example, '''Tomzak''' = T522, and '''Roses''' = R220.  

*'''H or W key letter seperators.''' If an '''h''' or '''w''' separates key letters that have the same code number, those key letters should be treated as one letter. For example, '''Ashcroft''' = A261, and '''Carwruth''' = C630.  

*'''Names with prefixes''', such as Van, Con, De, Di, La, or Le, are coded both with and without the prefix because the name might be listed under either code. Note, however, that Mc and Mac are not considered prefixes. For example, '''Van Deusen''' = V532 or D250.

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*Rick Parsons, ''<ref>[http://west-penwith.org.uk/misc/soundex.htm Soundex - the True Story ''</ref> (http://west-penwith.org.uk/misc/soundex.htm : accessed 30 July 2008). ''  

*''<ref>[http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/census/soundex.html The Soundex Indexing System] </ref>'' ''The National Archives'' (http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/census/soundex.html : accessed 30 July 2008).  

*Gary Mokotoff, "<ref>[http://www.avotaynu.com/soundex.html Soundexing and Genealogy]</ref>" ''Avotaynu'' (http://www.avotaynu.com/soundex.html : accessed 30 July 2008).