Do you read Arabic?

August 25, 2006 11:07 AM

Can anyone proof my Arabic?

In response to recent events, I'd like to create a shirt that says "I am not a terrorist" in Arabic.

Google's translator, amazingly, includes Arabic, so I'm hoping I can get someone who knows how to read it to check my work before I offer the Tees.

You can see my graphic here: http://itsnotallbad.com/arabic.png

I had to use Safari to do the type rendering for me, because the standard version of Photoshop doesn't do right-to-left text, bizarrely (if you know better, please let me know).

posted by o2b to writing & language (19 comments total)

I'd suggest posting a message here.
posted by ifranzen at 11:44 AM on August 25, 2006

The last word should be اْرهابي

You can drop the Alif (the last letter).
posted by nineRED at 11:47 AM on August 25, 2006

Rock on, nineRED.

So, like this? http://itsnotallbad.com/arabic.png
posted by o2b at 11:59 AM on August 25, 2006

money!
posted by nineRED at 12:28 PM on August 25, 2006

If ya care...I made this a couple years ago as a two-layer stencil. Never did anything with it.
Basically means "STOP TERRORISM", if you couldn't noodle that already.
it's a bold statement, I know...



posted by nineRED at 12:57 PM on August 25, 2006

May I suggest something, to make it more accurate. Add a 'hamza' on the first 'alef' of 'ana' and below the the alef of 'irhabi'.
posted by convex at 1:12 PM on August 25, 2006

Well, that didn't take long: boingboing I am not a terrorist shirt.
posted by Doctor Barnett at 1:38 PM on August 25, 2006

I can see it now.

TSA Agent: "I asked him what his shirt said and he told me 'I am a terrorist.'"

You: "No, I didn't! I said 'I am NOT a terrorist.'"

TSA Agent: "No, I definitely heard him say he was a terrorist."
posted by peep at 1:46 PM on August 25, 2006

peep, that's about what I thought when I saw nineRED's image inline above. It wouldn't be read "Stop terrorism" but rather "Stop me! I'm a terrorist!"
posted by whatzit at 1:55 PM on August 25, 2006

OK, since the question has been answered, can I piggyback a wee bit and ask 1) what the transliteration of the phrase is, and 2) where the negative is? My Arabic is next to nonexistent, but I thought negative statements had a maa or a mish or something.
posted by languagehat at 2:13 PM on August 25, 2006

No not, long at all. I was just coming in to share.

I think someone elsewhere made the same suggestion convex -- can you give it to me in Arabic? I don't speak or read it -- I rely on the goodness of others so I can copy and paste.
posted by o2b at 2:26 PM on August 25, 2006

languagehat

'maa' or 'mish' are modern arabic and can differ from one arabic country/accent to another. While 'ana lastu irhaby' is traditional arabic.

'ana' : I

'lastu' : am not where the attached 'u' part represents 'me' who is 'not'.

'irhaby' : terrorist, where the 'y' part refers to 'me-male' who is not terrorist.

Is that making any sense?
posted by convex at 2:33 PM on August 25, 2006

Yes, and thank you!


Nerd!
posted by languagehat at 2:38 PM on August 25, 2006

Damn, I realized a second after I hit post that that "Nerd!" didn't make any sense; it was a dig at cortex, and you're not cortex, you're convex! My most humble apologies.

Damn co**exes... Nobody can keep 'em apart...
posted by languagehat at 2:41 PM on August 25, 2006

02b
the 'hamza' is the floating thing on top like here "أ", put it on top of the "ا" in "انا " and below it in "ارهابي".

Or look at the chart
The 'hamza' on top should look like key 'H' and 'hamza' below should look like key 'Y'.
posted by convex at 2:49 PM on August 25, 2006

A woman just emailed saying that the arabic needs to be offered in a female-appropriate form as well.

Can someone help me add a "tah marboota" to the end of the sentence?

Here is the original text for reference:

انا لست ارهابيا
posted by crickets at 7:15 PM on August 25, 2006

But add 2 dots on top of the last letter
انا لست ارهابيه
I am using google translator too, they lack such letters.
posted by convex at 9:40 PM on August 25, 2006

Piggybacking from my earlier question: what does "karaysee" mean--or the "krs" root--since "tah" is a female word?
posted by brujita at 1:04 AM on August 26, 2006

Careful this doesn't happen to you.
posted by louigi at 12:41 AM on August 31, 2006