Transcriptions of the Hebraic
and Arabic alphabets

PARALLEL TRANSCRIPTION OF THE HEBREW AND ARABIC ALPHABETS

Whatever incertitudes may remain concerning the genesis of Arabic writing,● it is difficult to contest that the alphabetic system became fixed at a precise moment to meet a precise need: the writing of the Qurʾān. It was then that Arabic “was born from a dialect that was promoted to the rank of a literary language.”● It would be more exact to say: a religious language. Our exegesis will abundantly prove that this “promotion” was made in close dependency on the Hebraic language. Thus we will not be surprised to see that the alphabet used in the Qurʾān is quite simply a transposition of the Hebrew alphabet into Arabic.

Strictly speaking, this consonantal system suffices in the two languages. Nevertheless we will add to it the vocalic signs of the Hebraic Masoretic system for the Hebrew and Aramaic words, and the Qurʾānic scriptio plena for the Arabic words. It is, however, necessary to recall that the transcription of Semitic consonants into the Latin alphabet is always relative and conventional. That is why we will respect the transcription system of the authors whom we quote when it is different from our own. Likewise we will respect the universally accepted usage concerning proper names and certain words that have become current usage.

We have not differentiated the two Hebraic consonants samekh and sin, both transcribed with the letter s. Although they are only rarely interchangeable in Hebrew, we have had to note that the Arabic sin indifferently transcribes both, undoubtedly under the influence of Aramaic that employs them more or less one for the other.

To avoid overcomplicating the text, we have not distinguished the dagesh lene when it affects the Hebraic consonants bet, gimel, dalet, and tav.

The letter u is always pronounced ou.

The Hebraic consonant yud is transcribed by y. When it is used to suggest the presence of a concomitant vowel, it is transcribed by ῑ. In certain cases, the choice remains uncertain.

The Arabic diphthong alif-yā̛ is transcribed by ay.