Transliteration of Libyan placenames

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Transliteration of Libyan placenames is the process of converting Libyan placenames written in the Arabic alphabet into the Latin alphabet. In most cases Libyan places have no common English name, so they need to be transliterated from Libyan Arabic or Standard Arabic. Many systems have been used, resulting in locations which have multiple transliterations in circulation.

Contents

Background

During the Italian colonization of Libya, Italians attempted to phonetically transliterate the Libyan Arabic pronunciations of most place names according to Italian orthography, with the exception of places with pre-existing Roman, Greek, or Italian names, such as Al Qubbah ('Giovanni Berta'), Shahhat ('Cirene'), and Susa ('Apollonia').

During World War II, the British army used the Italian maps, so the Italian transliterations became common among the British government and English-speaking historians.[ citation needed ]

However, most Libyans were not acquainted with these previous experiments, and after the 1969 Libyan revolution, only Arabic script was allowed on signs or tablets. [1]

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

Examples

Here is a list of selected Libyan cities and towns, showing how the places have been transliterated from Standard Arabic and Libyan Arabic into Italian and English.

Note that any (h) preceded by a vowel is lightly pronounced or silent (like in Darnah).

Standard Arabic Libyan Arabic Italian Page(s) in English Wikipedia
AjdabiaJdabiaAgedábia Ajdabiya
Al AbraqLabragLuigi di Savoia [2] Al Abraq
Al AbyarLabiarEl Abiár Aybar
Al ʿAziziyahEl AziziyahEl Azizia ‘Aziziya
Al BaydaʾEl BaydaBeda Littoria Bayda
Al BardiyaEl Bardiya
or El Bûrdi
Bardia Bardia
Al JaghbubEl JaghbubGiarabub
or El Giaghbub
Jaghbub
Al KhumsEl KhumsHoms Khoms
Al MakhiliEl MkhiliMechili Mechili
Al MarjEl MarjBarce Marj
Al QubbahEl GûbbahGiovanni Berta [3] Al Qubah
Al UqaylahEl AgheilaEl Agheila El Agheila
At TamimiEt TimimiTmimi Timimi
AwjilahAwjilahÁugila Awjila
Az ZawiyahEz ZawiahEz Zauia Zawiya
Bani WalidBani WlidBeni Ulid Bani Walid
Banghazi
Bani Ghazi
BanghaziBengasi Benghazi
DarnahDarnahDerna Derna
DaryanahDerianaDriána Deriana
GhadamisGhadamisGadames Ghadames
GhatGhatGat Ghat
GharyanGhiryanGarian Gharyan
JaluJaluGiálo Jalu
& Jalo oasis
Marsa Al BurayqahMarsa El Breiga
or El Breiga
Mersa Brega Brega
MaradahMaradahMaráda Marada
MarawahMarawahMaraua Marawa
MisratahMisratahMisurata Misrata
QaminisGheminesGhemínes Qaminis
SabhaSabhaSebca Sabha
ShahhatShahhatCirene Shahhat
& Cyrene
SuluqSolugSoluch Suluq
SusahSusahApollonia Susa,
& Apollonia
TarabulusTrablisTripoli Tripoli
YifrinYifrinJefren Yafran
ZallahZallahZella Zella
ZuwarahZwarahZuara Zuwara

See also

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References

  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

Bibliography

And Libya's maps at: