Pronouncing Iraq

[James Smith]

This has come up before and I don't think it has ever
recieved a clear answer.  Iraq was Irak (still is on
old maps).  Koran is apparently no longer an
acceptable spelling.  Interestingly, Kuwait and
Karballah still retain the *k*.



--- sagehen <sagehen at WESTELCOM.COM> wrote:

> Are the various pronunciations of "Iraq" -- EYE
> rack, EAR rack, EE rack --
> linked to dialects, to professional domains, e.g.,
> military, academic,
> diplomatic, &c., to class/register  or NOTA?
>
> Is the romanized spelling of Arabic that omits U
> after Q meant to convey a
> particular sound distinct from K, or did it become
> conventionalized  for
> some other reason?
>
> Just ruminating....
> A. Murie
>


=====
James D. SMITH                 |If history teaches anything
South SLC, UT                  |it is that we will be sued
jsmithjamessmith at yahoo.com     |whether we act quickly and decisively
                               |or slowly and cautiously.

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com