Who knows Arabic?

Discussion in 'Linguistics' started by Athelwulf, Dec 1, 2006.

  1. Athelwulf Rest in peace Kurt... Registered Senior Member

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    I'd like some Arabic transliterated for me. Not translated, but transliterated — I think I already know the translation.

    ﻟﻥ ﻧﺻﻣﺕ

    I've worked out the transliteration "LN NṢMT", but I'm not sure how to find out the vowel sounds, since I don't know the language. Any help is appreciated.
     
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  3. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    Lan Nasmat

    But what does it mean? Lan, as I know it means "will not"- nasmat from naseem? breeze? Will not breeze? or will not breathe?
     
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  5. Athelwulf Rest in peace Kurt... Registered Senior Member

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    Thanks.

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    My translation is "We will not be silent". I recently got one of those shirts that has that in English with Arabic above it, which I assume says the same thing.
     
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  7. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    I checked the dictionary.

    Nasmat means "breath of life" so I guess your meaning makes sense.
     
  8. Athelwulf Rest in peace Kurt... Registered Senior Member

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    Thanks again.

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  9. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    FYI it should be Lan Naskut (we will not be silenced)

    Uskut! means Silence! (or Shut up!)

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    PS the Lan is same as fun, not as fan.
     
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2006
  10. Athelwulf Rest in peace Kurt... Registered Senior Member

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    I know how to pronounce European vowels. I assume they're similar?
     
  11. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    European vowels??
     
  12. Athelwulf Rest in peace Kurt... Registered Senior Member

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    As opposed to English vowels, which have been changed drastically from their original values. For example, European I sounds like English E, and European E sounds like English A.
     
  13. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    Hmm not sure what you mean, I'm just giving you the transliteration as I would say the words.

    e.g. lan nis-mat


    The A sound in lan is like the U in fun or sun, not the usual way we would speak an A, in fan or sand,

    the N in lan is hard, as in sun.

    the I sound in nismat is a short I and

    the A sound in nismat is a short A (not like mat, like the U in but)

    the T is soft like the T in "th" but without the H sound.
     
  14. Athelwulf Rest in peace Kurt... Registered Senior Member

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    I thought it was "Lan naskut".

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    Hard?

    Not aspirated? Like D, only voiceless?
     
  15. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    I mean the word in the OP.

    Its nasmat but when you say it it sounds like nismat.

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    Its emphasised in the syllable, sun, fun, ton as compared to anon, soon, clan, etc.

    the tip of your tongue should hit the your front two teeth, but not hard enough to cause the H sound.

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  16. Athelwulf Rest in peace Kurt... Registered Senior Member

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    Okay, but is the translation "Lan nasmat" or "Lan naskut"?

    Um... There is no difference in the N sound in those words for me. What variety of English do you speak? Mine's American.
     
  17. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    The word you've written in Arabic is lan nasmat. I don't know exactly what it means, it may be colloquial for We will not be silent.

    Lan naskut means We will not be silenced.



    I'm Indian, so I guess I speak the Queen's English.

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  18. Athelwulf Rest in peace Kurt... Registered Senior Member

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    Oh, I guess I get it now.

    I'm not aware of the distinction in her variety then.
     
  19. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    If you speak French it's the N sound in donner vs. the N sound in cuisine.
     
  20. Athelwulf Rest in peace Kurt... Registered Senior Member

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    So it's more a distinct sound, rather than a sound that just trails off?

    EDIT: Okay, do you know how to represent it in IPA?
     
  21. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    Yes, a firm sound rather than a nuance.

    I don't even know what an IPA is.

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  22. Athelwulf Rest in peace Kurt... Registered Senior Member

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    Okay, I think I get it.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPA
     
  23. Xerxes asdfghjkl Valued Senior Member

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    I was thinking of writing 'fuck the police' on a white shirt in transliterated devnagari. Sounds better, no?
     

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