Correct names: Zacarias Moussaui, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi

Self ^ | May 13, 2004 | vanity

[AZLiberty]

I've seen more spellings of these names in the last half hour than I can shake a stick at. The thread title holds the correct ones.

[noscreenname]

Probably guilty.

I'll write them down and keep them next to my keyboard.

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

I'm guilty too. 13 Lashes!

[SunStar]

You are correct in quoting the proper media spellings. However, some would argue that there are three different spelling methods of converting Arabic words into English... I don't really care, personally. :)

[aft_lizard]

I know I am guilty, I blame it on the media they re-spell these names so often ZI lose count and give up. Like Zacarias or is it Zacharias or something.

[John H K]

Actually, to be technical, there ARE NO "correct" spellings of either name.

Arabic, like Chinese and Russian, uses a non-Roman alphabet.

Russian and Chinese currently have a standardized "official" transliteration.

However, they did not always have these (Beijing used to be "Peking" and if you read old books on the Napoleonic Wars you'll see weird spellings of Russian names.)

But there's no current, standardized transliteration of Arabic names.

That's why you'll see Gaddafi, Khadaffi, Gadafy, etc. for the leader of Libya. Each media outlet tends to pick one and stick to it.

Now, in the case of Moussaoui, I suppose the name as transliterated on US travel documents could be considered "official" in his case....

[nutmeg]

bookmark bump

[Arkie2]

Oh boy, a speling thred! Can yu start a gramer thred for us who cain't speke the languije?

[Leroy S. Mort]

A Moussoui bit my sister........

[John H K]

And actually, by far the most common spelling of "Moussaoui" is "Moussaoui" in the US media, and I would suspect is his name on his Green Card and in Court documentsor whatever, rather than your spelling.

[antaresequity]

Admin Moderator...can you please add these to the spell checker?...Also 'Al Quaida'[sp?]

Pretty please?

[South40]

Nobodi evor learnt me how two spale eethere.

[Arkie2]

That's a cheesy joke!

[VisualizeSmallerGovernment]

Regarding those two, the only letters I care about are R. I. P. .

[cripplecreek]

You say Kadaffi I say Quadafi. You say Osama I say Usama.

I can't help it if middle easterners can't spell.

[Arkie2]

Why do you want them resting in peace? All the tortures of hell would be appropriate but not a moment of peace.

[GarySpFc]

I'm married to a Russian lady, and have been studying the language for four years, and can well appreciate there are various ways to spell Russian and Arabic words.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Actually, to be technical, there ARE NO "correct" spellings of either name."

Well, there are alternate correct spellings based upon which translation conventions you use, but a lot us aren't hitting ANY of the targets.

[marty60]

I like to misspell them. It's meant as an insult.

[ALASKA]

Moussoui trained to mix concrete and sign complicated insurance forms...............