Pronouncing Iraq

[Allen Maberry]

k and q represent two different letters of the Arabic alphabet, which differentiates between two k sounds. The "k" is pronounced like the English k, and the q like a "strongly articulated guttural k" (Wright.  A grammar of the Arabic language. Cambridge 1896-8, reprinted many times). Karbala and Kuwait are spelled using the kaf (k sound) and al-Iraq and Quran with the qaf (guttural k sound).

allen
maberry at myuw.net


On Fri, 17 Dec 2004, James Smith wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       James Smith <jsmithjamessmith at YAHOO.COM>
> Subject:      Re: Pronouncing Iraq
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> 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
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