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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri>Please circulate.</FONT></SPAN>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri>Symposium</FONT></SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri>Towards A Transliteration Standard of Arabic: Challenges and Solutions</FONT></SPAN></B>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri>Abu Dhabi, UAE, 15-16 December 2009</FONT></SPAN></B>
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<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>Arabic proper names of individuals, locations, cities, as well as titles of books, or any quotation from Arabic texts are transliterated in Latin script in different ways. Presentation of Arabic letters is realized in different forms that usually lead to confusion and multiplicity of versions and even failing to identify identity. For example, <SPAN dir=rtl></SPAN></FONT><SPAN lang=AR-SA dir=rtl style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'"><SPAN dir=rtl></SPAN> محمد</SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>is written <I>inter alia</I> as <I>Muhammad, Muhamed, Mohamed, and Mohammed</I>. How can we differentiate between<SPAN dir=rtl></SPAN></FONT><SPAN lang=AR-SA dir=rtl style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'"><SPAN dir=rtl></SPAN> علاء </SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>and </FONT><SPAN lang=AR-SA dir=rtl style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial',
'sans-serif'">آلاء</SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>, or </FONT><SPAN lang=AR-SA dir=rtl style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'">عامر</SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri> and </FONT><SPAN lang=AR-SA dir=rtl style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'">أمير</SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><SPAN lang=AR-SA><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>when they are transliterated? They can be written in very similar, if not identical, forms. There is a need to improve the quality of our communication; effective and efficient communication is one of the prerequisites for excellence. Moreover, individuals may face unnecessary inconveniences, at certain points, simply because their names are transliterated/pronounced in different ways, e.g., when cashing a check, who is<I> </I></FONT><I><SPAN lang=AR-AE dir=rtl style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial',
'sans-serif'">ِ</SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>Alaa Amir</FONT></I><FONT face=Calibri>? Is it </FONT><SPAN lang=AR-SA dir=rtl style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'">علاء عامر</SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>, </FONT><SPAN lang=AR-SA dir=rtl style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'">آلاء عامر</SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>, </FONT><SPAN lang=AR-SA dir=rtl style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'">آلاء أمير</SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>, or </FONT><SPAN lang=AR-SA dir=rtl style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'">علاء أمير</SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>?</FONT></FONT>
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<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>There are some transliteration systems that are used around the world to write Arabic proper nouns and words in Latin letters using different representations, but there is no one unified standard used to transliterate Arabic names. A standard based on straightforward rules with clear representation is now needed more than ever. You are invited to submit papers that investigate the different aspects of this issue and propose solutions. Papers on transliteration software and demos are also welcome. Please submit an abstract (200-300 words) outlining the main points that will be dealt with in your paper. Papers should address the following areas: </FONT>
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<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN><SPAN><FONT face=Calibri size=3>1.</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Historical developments and transliteration systems. </FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN><SPAN><FONT face=Calibri size=3>2.</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Problems and challenges that transliteration of Arabic names face.</FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'"><SPAN><FONT size=3>3.</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>Solutions viable for those problems and challenges.<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'"></SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'"><SPAN><FONT size=3>4.</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>Laws and governmental guidelines and rules regarding transliteration.<SPAN lang=AR-SA dir=rtl style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'"></SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN><SPAN><FONT face=Calibri size=3>5.</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>Transliteration criteria. Is there a standard or standards? What are the essential characteristics of the transliteration standard?<SPAN lang=AR-SA dir=rtl style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'"></SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN><SPAN><FONT face=Calibri size=3>6.</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri size=3>How Arabic language academies have dealt with transliteration.</FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN><SPAN><FONT face=Calibri size=3>7.</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri size=3>The experiences of other languages in transliteration.</FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN><SPAN><FONT face=Calibri size=3>8.</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Software that carry out transliteration automatically, the standard they adopt, and the rules used in those software.</FONT>
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<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><B><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Aim</FONT></B>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>The symposium aims at developing a transliteration standard to be used in writing Arabic proper names in particular and any other quotations from Arabic in general. The symposium recommendations will be presented to concerned governmental and nongovernmental organizations.</FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B><FONT face=Calibri size=3> </FONT></B>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><B><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>Target participants/audience</FONT></FONT></B>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 35.45pt"><SPAN><SPAN><FONT face=Calibri size=3>(1)</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Researchers and professionals in the fields of languages and linguistics, translation, natural language processing and related areas.</FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 35.45pt"><SPAN><SPAN><FONT face=Calibri size=3>(2)</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Organizations, both public and private, which have name databases that deal with transliteration in their business and will benefit from the standard.</FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B><FONT face=Calibri size=3> </FONT></B>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><B>Languages of the symposium: </B>Arabic and English</FONT></FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B><FONT face=Calibri size=3> </FONT></B>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><B>Time:</B> presenters will have 20 minutes and 10 minutes for discussion.<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'"></SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B><SPAN lang=AR-SA dir=rtl style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'"><FONT size=3> </FONT></SPAN></B>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><B>Proceedings:</B> papers will be published in the proceedings.<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'"></SPAN></FONT></FONT>
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<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><B>Symposium Committee</B> </FONT></FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 141.75pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Dr Abdulrahamn Al-Hashemi (Advisor, Corporate Learning & Development. National Drilling Company) </FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Dr Sattar Izwaini (American University of Sharjah)</FONT>
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<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><B>Deadlines</B><B><SPAN lang=AR-SA dir=rtl style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'"></SPAN></B></FONT></FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri size=3>1 July 2009: submission of abstracts or expression of intention to attend</FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>1 </FONT><SPAN lang=AR-SA dir=rtl style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'">ِ</SPAN><FONT face=Calibri>August 2009: notification of acceptance and providing feedback</FONT></FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>1 October 2009: submitting papers</FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>15 November 2009: providing feedback</FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>1 December 2009: submitting the final version of papers</FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>15-16 December 2009: Symposium</FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face=Calibri size=3> </FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>Abstracts and full papers are to be sent to <B>BOTH</B></FONT></FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Dr Abdulrahamn Al-Hashemi </FONT><A href="http://uk.mc244.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=a.alhashemi@ioe.ae" target=_blank rel=nofollow><FONT face=Calibri size=3>a.alhashemi@ioe.ae</FONT></A>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3> and</FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>Dr Sattar<I> </I>Izwaini<I> </I></FONT></FONT><A href="http://uk.mc244.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=sizwaini@aus.edu" target=_blank rel=nofollow><FONT face=Calibri size=3>sizwaini@aus.edu</FONT></A>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><B><FONT face=Calibri size=3> </FONT></B>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><B><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>Organizers & sponsors</FONT></FONT></B>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>Abu<SPAN style="COLOR: blue"> </SPAN>Dhabi International Center for Organizational Excellence (ADICOE)<B></B></FONT></FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Emirates Quality Association </FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face=Calibri size=3> </FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><B>Venue:</B> Abu Dhabi City, UAE. Exact venue to be announced.</FONT></FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face=Calibri size=3> </FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><B>For more information contact</B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'"></SPAN></B></FONT></FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN lang=AR-SA dir=rtl style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'"><FONT size=3> </FONT></SPAN>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>Dr Abdulrahamn Al-Hashemi<I> </I></FONT></FONT><A href="http://uk.mc244.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=a.alhashemi@ioe.ae" target=_blank rel=nofollow><FONT face=Calibri size=3>a.alhashemi@ioe.ae</FONT></A>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>Telephone: (+971 2) 698 33 99<B></B></FONT></FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3> </FONT>
<P class=listparagraph style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 14.2pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>Dr Sattar<I> </I>Izwaini<I> </I></FONT></FONT><A href="http://uk.mc244.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=sizwaini@aus.edu" target=_blank rel=nofollow><FONT face=Calibri size=3>sizwaini@aus.edu</FONT></A>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Sattar Izwaini, PhD</FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Assistant Professor of Translation</FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Dept. of Arabic & Translation Studies</FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>College of Arts & Sciences</FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>American University of Sharjah</FONT>
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