|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,918 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,918 Likes: 2 |
Question to someone who may know:
We see in Arabic many words which are prefixed with an
"al", Moammar Al-Qaddafi, for example. Others like Al-Akbar,
and I believe it was Anwar Al-Sadat of Egypt. To what
does the "al" refer? Or is it like a "the", "of", "from"?
Is it like Fitz in Fitzsimmons, Da in DaVinci, D' in D'Onofrio, Mac in MacKay, De in DeMaupassant? I notice it
is in names of places as well as people, hence my question.
----please, draw me a sheep----
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
The word 'al is basically the definite article in Arabic, i.e., the.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,918 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,918 Likes: 2 |
----please, draw me a sheep----
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Pooh-Bah
|
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706 |
and in NZ some place names begin with the French 'rue'. It translates to 'street' (I use to think it meant the) Akaroa
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,918 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,918 Likes: 2 |
Looks like a beautiful place.
Qadaffi's son was called Al-Qadaffi on the new this AM.
Last edited by LukeJavan8; 02/27/11 04:07 PM.
----please, draw me a sheep----
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 677
addict
|
|
addict
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 677 |
The same things happen in Ancient Greek if I remeber correctly...for about a week after learning this we went around school calling everyone "The Alice" or "The Guinevere"...I presume we found it funny to begin with but it only lasted that first week...
----The next sentence is true. The previous sentence is false----
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,918 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,918 Likes: 2 |
The same things happen in Ancient Greek if I remeber correctly...for about a week after learning this we went around school calling everyone "The Alice" or "The Guinevere"...I presume we found it funny to begin with but it only lasted that first week... Even that makes more sense to me. With it being the definite article explained that way. So the thing being definitely pointed out (like Qadaffi) does not necessarily mean anything, it is like The Alice?
----please, draw me a sheep----
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,352
Members9,182
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
1 members (wofahulicodoc),
494
guests, and
0
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
