Arabic Translation

[Lorizael]

So quick googling gave me a lot of translation websites where I had to either buy something or register. Since I don't particularly feel like doing either of those things, I've come to Apolyton, the ultimate source for pseudo-information from people that think they're experts on subjects. Is it good form to insult people before you ask them favors?

Anyways, I'm writing a story that takes place in Egypt. First of all, would tiny little towns in Egypt have Arabic names or... err... Egyptian ones? Second of all, what sorts of names might these tiny little towns have? Third of all, what vital piece of information about this incredibly important subject am I missing that will make me look like a douchebag when I turn the story and the professor goes, "Way to go moron, people in Egypt actually < insert incredibly obvious fact that exposes me as the fraud I really am here >."

Edit: Poly took out what I had inside the greater than less than signs. Woops.

[SlowwHand]

What if you looked up Egyptian cities to see what their origins were?

[Datajack Franit]

Way to go moron, people in Egypt actually




changed ancient cities´names from Egyptian to Arabic right after the conquest. Which was more than 600 years ago, so go figure out. It´s pretty obvious that every language has its own version of foreign cities´names. Like saying London, or Londres á la francaise. If you look for an atlas, it will be hard to find a place that still has the original name given by its founders.

[Impaler[WrG]]

Reminds me of the joke about a Billboard for Soda in Egypt,
First Panel a Hot and thirsty person, Second Panel man drinking Soda, Third Panel man is nolonger hot and thirst and is instead happy.

The punchline is arabs read right-to-left

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by Datajack Franit
Way to go moron, people in Egypt actually




changed ancient cities´names from Egyptian to Arabic right after the conquest. Which was more than 600 years ago, so go figure out. It´s pretty obvious that every language has its own version of foreign cities´names. Like saying London, or Londres á la francaise. If you look for an atlas, it will be hard to find a place that still has the original name given by its founders.

I don't really need original names here. The story is actually about two Egyptologists who happen to be in a small Egyptian town in modern day. I know a good deal more about ancient Egypt than I do modern Egypt. The town is just a backdrop to lend authenticity to the tale.

[Bill3000]

To be sorta fair, Egypt does have its own dialect of Arabic that is different from Standard Modern Arabic, so in a way, it is "Egyptian" rather than "Arabic." (For example: Standard Arabic of "Alexandria" is "Al-ʼIskandariya", while Egyptian Arabic of "Alexandria" is "Iskindireyya")

But no, it's pretty much entirely Arabic by this time, with the exception of the exterme minority of the Coptics, the remnents of Christain Egypt (As well as the remnents of the language descended from Ancient Egyptian)