CT Language-Specific Transliteration Rules 2

Question 1

In Arabic transliteration for US official documents, how is the letter ع (ayn) typically represented?

Accepted Answer

As an apostrophe or opening single quotation mark (ʿ)

Answer

The Arabic letter ʿayn (ع) is conventionally represented by a reversed apostrophe or the symbol ʿ in standard transliteration schemes such as ALA-LC.

Question 2

When transliterating Arabic names with the definite article 'ال' (al-) into English for official US documents, which practice is correct?

Accepted Answer

Use 'al-' in lowercase when it is not the first word of the name

Answer

Standard practice for Arabic definite articles in official transliteration is to use lowercase 'al-' when it appears after the first element of a name.

Question 3

In the ALA-LC romanization scheme for Arabic, the letter ق (qaf) is rendered as:

Accepted Answer

q

Answer

The Arabic letter qaf (ق) is always rendered as 'q' in ALA-LC romanization, even though it sounds similar to 'k' in some dialects.

Question 4

When a sun letter (شمسية) follows 'al-' in Arabic, what happens to the 'l' in transliteration according to phonetic-based systems?

Accepted Answer

The 'l' is assimilated and replaced by the following consonant

Answer

In phonetic-based Arabic transliteration, assimilation of the 'l' in 'al-' to a sun letter is reflected, e.g., al-shams becomes ash-shams.

Question 5

The Arabic letter خ (kha) is most commonly transliterated in US official documents as:

Accepted Answer

kh

Answer

The Arabic kha (خ) is standardly transliterated as 'kh' in ALA-LC and most US official schemes, representing the voiceless velar fricative.

(CT) Certificate of Transliteration Practice Test

(CT) Certificate of Transliteration Practice Test

CT Language-Specific Transliteration Rules 2