Transliteration of Libyan placenames

Transliteration of Libyan placenames is the process of converting Libyan placenames written in the Arabic alphabet into the Latin alphabet. Libyan places have in most cases no common English name so when they are referred to they need to be transliterated either directly from the Libyan Arabic or standard Arabic. Over the decades a number of systems have been used result in locations having multiple transliterations in circulation.

Contents

Background

Writing names of Libyan places in Latin alphabet is a confusing dilemma. In the past, the colonist Italians tried, despite the constraints of their language, to write these names as accurate as the local Libyans pronounce them, that is, in Libyan Arabic, except for some places renamed by Roman, Greek, or Italian names, like (Al-Qubba-Giovanni Berta), (Shahat-Cirene), and (Sussa-Apollonia).

During World War II, the British used the Italian maps, so they used the names almost as the Italians has already written it, and so did the war’s historians.

However, almost Libyans weren’t acquainted of these previous experiments. Moreover, after the political change on September 1, 1969[1], any alphabet other than Arabic’s had been banned in writing any signs or tablets, so Libyan officials weren’t interested in writing tablets or signs in foreign alphabet, and the people who are interested, either Libyan or foreign, tried to write the names after bringing them back to their Standard Arabic (S.A.) origin, which is, sometimes, so far from reality. For example in a place is known in Standard Arabic as “Ajdabia”, in Libya Arabic (L.A.) “Jdabia”, and the Italian wrote it “Agedabia”. Another place named in S.A. “Marsa Al Burayqa”, in L.A. “Marsa El Breiga”, and the Italians wrote it Mersa Brega. A third example is “Al-Uqayla” in S.A., “El Agheila” in L.A., and like this Italians Wrote it.

There is no agreement on the Transliteration of Libyan placenames except for a few cities like Tripoli, Benghazi, and Tobruk.

A list

Here is a list of selected Libyan cities and towns, shows how these places could be transliterated from Standard Arabic, and Libyan Arabic. It shows also how the Italians had already transliterated the names to Italian alphabet. However, none of the choices has been suggested to be used alone.

Note:Any (h) preceded by a vowel is almost lightly pronounced or silent (like in Darnah).

Standard Arabic Libyan Arabic Italian Page(s) in English Wikipedia
Ajdabia Jdabia Agedábia Ajdabiya
Al Abraq Labrag Luigi di Savoia[2] Al Abraq
Al Abyar Labiar El Abiár Aybar
Al ʿAziziyah El Aziziyah El Azizia ‘Aziziya
Al Baydaʾ El Bayda Beda Littoria Bayda
Al Bardiya El Bardiya
or El Bûrdi		 Bardia Bardia
Al Jaghbub El Jaghbub Giarabub
or El Giaghbub		 Jaghbub
Al Khums El Khums Homs Khoms
Al Makhili El Mkhili Mechili Mechili
Al Marj El Marj Barce Marj
Al Qubbah El Gûbbah Giovanni Berta[3] Al Qubah
Al Uqaylah El Agheila El Agheila El Agheila
At Tamimi Et Timimi Tmimi Timimi
Awjilah Awjilah Áugila Awjila
Az Zawiyah Ez Zawiah Ez Zauia Zawiya
Bani Walid Bani Wlid Beni Ulid Bani Walid
Banghazi
Bani Ghazi		 Banghazi Bengasi Benghazi
Darnah Darnah Derna Derna
Daryanah Deriana Driána Deriana
Ghadamis Ghadamis Gadames Ghadames
Ghat Ghat Gat Ghat
Gharyan Ghiryan Garian Gharyan
Jalu Jalu Giálo Jalu
& Jalo oasis
Marsa Al Burayqah Marsa El Breiga
or El Breiga		 Mersa Brega Brega
Maradah Maradah Maráda Marada
Marawah Marawah Maraua Marawa
Misratah Misratah Misurata Misrata
Qaminis Ghemines Ghemínes Qaminis
Sabha Sabha Sebca Sabha
Shahhat Shahhat Cirene Shahhat
& Cyrene
Suluq Solug Soluch Suluq
Susah Susah Apollonia Susa,
& Apollonia
Tarabulus Trablis Tripoli Tripoli
Yifrin Yifrin Jefren Yafran
Zallah Zallah Zella Zella
Zuwarah Zwarah Zuara Zuwara

See also

Notes

  1. ^ See for example Act no.12; 1984, banning the usage of all languages other than Arabic in all dealings, reprinted in a governmental book named:"Al Qawaneen wal Lawa'eh wal Qararat that al Alaqa bil wazeefa al Amma wal Muwazzaf", part IV, prepared by Mohammed Omar Kassab et al.
  2. ^ Bulegma, & Kezeiri (ed.), " Al Jamahiriya ...", p.405
  3. ^ Bulegma, & Kezeiri (ed.), " Al Jamahiriya ...", p.405

References

And Libya's maps at: