| \section{Standard Module \sectcode{soundex}} |
| \stmodindex{soundex} |
| |
| \renewcommand{\indexsubitem}{(in module soundex)} |
| The soundex algorithm takes an English word, and returns an |
| easily-computed hash of it; this hash is intended to be the same for |
| words that sound alike. This module provides an interface to the |
| soundex algorithm. |
| |
| Note that the soundex algorithm is quite simple-minded, and isn't |
| perfect by any measure. Its main purpose is to help looking up names |
| in databases, when the name may be misspelled -- soundex hashes common |
| misspellings together. |
| |
| \begin{funcdesc}{get_soundex}{string} |
| Return the soundex hash value for a word; it will always be a |
| 6-character string. \var{string} must contain the word to be hashed, |
| with no leading whitespace; the case of the word is ignored. |
| \end{funcdesc} |
| |
| \begin{funcdesc}{sound_similar}{string1, string2} |
| Compare the word in \var{string1} with the word in \var{string2}; this |
| is equivalent to |
| \code{get_soundex(\var{string1})==get_soundex(\var{string2})}. |
| \end{funcdesc} |