// Caverphone - Phonetic matching algorithm optimized for New Zealand accents
Designed specifically for New Zealand pronunciation.
Version 2.0 produces consistent 10-character codes.
Superior performance for Commonwealth names.
Caverphone is a phonetic matching algorithm created by David Hood at the University of Otago, New Zealand. It was designed to match names in the electoral rolls with a focus on New Zealand accents and name patterns. Version 1.0 (2002) produces 6-character codes, while Version 2.0 (2004) produces 10-character codes for better accuracy. The algorithm handles specific letter patterns common in New Zealand pronunciation.
Version 2.0 (10 chars):
Thompson � TMPSN11111
Tomson � TMSN111111
Thomson � TMSN111111
Lee � LA11111111
Leigh � LA11111111
Lea � LA11111111
Stephens � STFNS11111
Stevens � STFNS11111
Version 1.0 (6 chars):
Thompson � TMPSN1
Lee � LA1111
Key transformations:
- ough � ou2f
- ph � fh � f
- Final e removed
- Vowels � ACaverphone is a phonetic matching algorithm developed at the University of Otago, New Zealand. It's specifically designed to handle the pronunciation patterns of New Zealand English, making it particularly effective for matching names in New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries.
Caverphone is optimized for New Zealand accents and naming patterns, unlike Soundex (American) or Metaphone (general English). It handles specific pronunciations like the NZ tendency to pronounce 'wh' differently and the merging of certain vowel sounds.
Caverphone 1.0 produces 6-character codes and was released in 2002. Version 2.0 (2004) produces 10-character codes, providing better discrimination between similar names while maintaining good matching for variants of the same name.
Use Caverphone when working with names from New Zealand, Australia, or other Commonwealth countries. It's particularly effective for electoral systems, genealogy research, and any application dealing with names that may have been recorded with NZ/Australian pronunciation in mind.