The Semaphore flag signaling
system is an alphabet signaling system based on the waving of a pair of
hand-held flags in a particular pattern.
The flags are usually square, red and
yellow, divided diagonally with the red portion in the upper hoist.
The flags are held, arms extended, in various
positions representing each of the letters of the alphabet. The pattern
resembles a clock face divided into eight positions: up, down, out, high,
low, for each of the left and right hands (LH and RH) six letters require
the hand to be brought across the body so that both flags are on the same
side.
Flag positions in Semaphore:
One way to visualize the semaphore alphabet is
in terms of circles:
first
circle: A, B, C, D, E, F, G;
second circle: H, I, K, L, M, N (omitting J);
third
circle: O, P, Q, R, S;
fourth circle: T, U, Y and 'annul';
fifth
circle: 'numeric', J (or 'alphabetic'), V;
sixth
circle: W, X;
seventh circle: Z
In their first circle, the
letters A to C are made with the right arm, and E to G with the left, and
D with either as convenient. In the second circle, the right arm is kept
still at the letter A position and the left arm makes the movements;
similarly in the remaining circles, the right arm remains fixed while the
left arm moves. The arms are kept straight when changing from one position
to another.
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