![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() In the old days, when Arabic was the dominant language over much of the world, many nations wrote their local languages using Arabic alphabets.Īrabic was capable of meeting their pronunciation requirements and offered them new or modified letters which could perfectly fulfil their pronunciation needs. However, what are the criteria for transliteration? Is there a common, agreed-upon transliteration standard for Arabic names? What would be the essential characteristics of such a standard? In a nation that relies on contact between Arabic and English there is obviously a great need to improve the quality of our written communication in personal, business and government documents.Įffective and efficient communication is, after all, one of the prerequisites for excellence. These are all the same Arabic word, but one that is spelt (transliterated) in various regional ways when written in English. In the Arabian Peninsula it is pronounced Jamal, in Egypt Gamal and in Algeria Djamal. How about Othman? Could it be Osman, Uthman or Usman? There are many names with multiple English spellings. Which should be the standard spelling?Īnd which is correct, Etihad or Al Ittihad (as in The National's sister paper Al Ittihad)? Is the correct version Mohamed, Mohammed, Mohammad, Muhamed, Muhammed or Muhammad?Īnd how about Abdurrahman: Abdulrahman, Abdul Rahman, Abdel Rehman or Abed Rahman. If we transliterate, spelling becomes an issue. Of course both come from the same Arabic word: Itihad.Įach such choice has consequences. My favourite anomaly is between "Etihad" Airways (transliteration) and "Union" Bank (translation). The many inconsistencies in how Arabic sounds are conveyed in Roman characters make this into a complicated issue.įor instance, should a man named Saied be called "Mr Happy" in English? Or should a Muhammad be known as "Mr Praised"? This is more than just a philosophical question the answer has practical implications that have an effect on daily life, as anyone who regularly deals with both languages knows well. Should Arabic names be translated into English, or are they better transliterated? ![]()
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