function [ num_let ] = word_assign (letter)
%assign the letter to its corresponding number
if letter == ‘a’
num_let = 1;
elseif letter == ‘b’
num_let = 2;
elseif letter == ‘c’
num_let = 3;
elseif letter == ‘d’
num_let = 4;
elseif letter == ‘e’
num_let = 5;
elseif letter == ‘f’
num_let = 6;
elseif letter == ‘g’
num_let = 7;
elseif letter == ‘h’
num_let = 8;
elseif letter == ‘i’
num_let = 9;
elseif letter == ‘j’
num_let = 10;
elseif letter == ‘k’
num_let = 11;
elseif letter == ‘l’
num_let = 12;
elseif letter == ‘m’
num_let = 13;
elseif letter == ‘n’
num_let = 14;
elseif letter == ‘o’
num_let = 15;
elseif letter == ‘p’
num_let = 16;
elseif letter == ‘q’
num_let = 17;
elseif letter == ‘r’
num_let = 18;
elseif letter == ‘s’
num_let = 19;
elseif letter == ‘t’
num_let = 20;
elseif letter == ‘u’
num_let = 21;
elseif letter == ‘v’
num_let = 22;
elseif letter == ‘w’
num_let = 23;
elseif letter == ‘x’
num_let = 24;
elseif letter == ‘y’
num_let = 25;
elseif letter == ‘z’
num_let = 26;
else
fprintf(‘\nerror’);
end
end