Dean's World: How to Spell Arab Names

June 12, 2002

How to Spell Arab Names

How do you spell Usama/Osama ben/bin Ladin/Laden's name, anyway? And how about that Quadafi/Kadafy/Kadhafhi guy's name, for that matter? Why are Arabic names always such an unpredictable mess when newspapers, magazines, and television programs try to give you a story about someone with such a name?

The London Guardian's Brian Whitaker has a pretty good essay on the subject. Not that you'll be less confused when you're done reading it, but at least you'll understand why the confusion exists, and why it's not likely to change.

There is one solution that Whitaker doesn't mention: a standardized reference, like a dictionary, listing "canonical" spellings for all well-known Arabic family and individual names, places, and culturally unique terms. Would such a dictionary necessarily be a little arbitrary? Of course; so are all dictionaries. That's what usage boards are for. The problem is that such a dictionary would be a massive and expensive undertaking, and in the end, who would pay for it?

Posted by esmay | PermaLink

Discuss This Article!

Who'd pay for it?
I say Colonel Kodaffie or President Hgomaynie of Iran or the estate of the late Iyatolla Comaynee. Or better yet we take it out of the hide of Oosamah bin-Lahdin or that bastard Arahphat!

Posted by Skylar Coalfax on June 16, 2002 at 4:52 PM

yeah, that bastard Ara-fat-ass has it coming. Anyone who's first name is Moh* or last name is Al-* needs to pay.

Posted by Chris on August 16, 2002 at 1:40 PM

it's Adolf Hitler costume... sieg heil, sieg heil!

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Chirs and Cartman hate creates hate and your comments are wrong and out of place. Not cool! How would you feel if the other side say the same things about your country's leader and your names...

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Posted by E. James on October 24, 2002 at 10:44 PM

Arab and Islam are two different things. Yeah, the majority of Arabs are muslims, but the fact that 14 millions Christian Arabs in Arab World shows that Islam and Arabs are two totally different entities. Islam is a universal religion, but Arab is merely an ethnic.

Posted by La Guardia on October 29, 2002 at 1:27 AM

I think that its rong to judge all Arab people for what a couple of sick individuals did on Sept.11. Theres creeps in all races, religions and cultures.The world is bad enough as it is already.Why make it worst with all the hate????

Posted by Juvany Herrera on January 24, 2003 at 10:22 PM

im arab. i hate and disgust what osame bin laden and co did on sept 11th. plus...it wwould be predictable that there isnt a "correct" way to spell "osama bin laden"'s name because his actual name is spelt in arabic...and the arabic language consists of a different alphabet thus the spelling of his english name can be done anyway...the only way to choose is osama's preference

Posted by yasmin on February 10, 2003 at 1:40 AM

oh yeah....chris....my fathers name starts with moh* and his surname starts with al-* and yet i dont feel that he should pay for anything translating the arabic language into english....because he already knows how to speak arabic....unlike those who buy the book.....kelb

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