SomaliNet Forums

@XoogSADE, but we are Europeans, right?

Personally, I believe if Somali was written using the Arabic alphabet, it would make the learning of the Qur'an much easier as far the spellings & hand writing are concerned. Arabic is the language of Islam, our noble Prophet (saw) was an Arab, much of the Islamic literature is in Arabic, so learning it is very essential to any Muslim.

How have we gained by writing Somali using Latin script? We are still using Arabic alphabet like B, T, J, X, KH, etc. except we are writing in a Latin script.

[quote="*Arabman"]Look, Arabic and Somali languages are from the same family language; Afro-Asiatic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-Asiatic_languages

Why adopt the script of a totally different language (Indo-European), the script and language of the enemy of the Ummah? The Latin script/language lacks certain letters that are found in both Arabic and Somali languages; such as the letter "x" (as in Xaliimo) and "dh" (as in dhiig).

Someone claimed there's no Somali word that starts with the letter "z." Here are a few words:

zab, zako & zeytuun.[/quote]

'The enemy of the Ummah' What Ummah? What enemy?

The Latin scrip was altered to meet our needs, even if we were to use Arabic we'll still need to alter it. The way we use to write is simple and straightforward. And yes there is no Z in Somali. Sab is correct pronunciation of the 'zab' you wrote. Zako and zaytuun are two borrowed words that are originally not Somali and it's pronounced as Sako and Saytuun, just as Zaynab, Zakariya, Zahra in Somali becomes Saynab, Sakariye and Sahro.

Nice try in brainwashing people my friend.

[The Latin scrip was altered to meet our needs, even if we were to use Arabic we'll still need to alter it.]

Not so, since both Arabic and Somali are from the same family language; Afro-Asiatic.

[quote="*Arabman"][The Latin scrip was altered to meet our needs, even if we were to use Arabic we'll still need to alter it.]

Not so, since both Arabic and Somali are from the same family language; Afro-Asiatic.[/quote]

I am no expert and your certainly no expert either. The experts who studied the language choose the current alphabets because it was perfect and cost affective. We are all grateful for their hard work. The experts can't be wrong and you can't be right.

[The experts can't be wrong and you can't be right.]

You might be right.

Koronto

Xusseyn summed it all up.


[quote="Xusseyn"] The experts who studied the language choose the current alphabets because it was perfect and cost affective. We are all grateful for their hard work. The experts can't be wrong and you can't be right.[/quote]

Writing system

At least four different writing systems have been devised for Somali: an Arabic-based abjad known as Wadaad's writing, a Latin-based alphabet and two native alphabets, the Osmanya script and the Borama script

Before the colonial period, educated Somalis and religious fraternities used the Arabic script (for example, Sayyid Mohammed Abdullah Hassan's letter to a scholar, betraying him to the colonial powers, was in Arabic). The Qur'an was taught throughout Somalia, so children were exposed to the Arabic alphabet from a young age. Material discovered in 1940, mainly ancient letters and tomb inscriptions, demonstrates that the Somali language was written with the Arabic alphabet, like the Urdu and Persian languages.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_lan ... ing_system

Iran uses Arabic script.

But Arabic doesn't have both "Q" and "KH" to which latin scripts have enabled Somali literature more open space to operate. For instance, Khadro, and Qadar Ilaah.

The pioneers of Somali latin script figured the need for more vowels since our language would be also be employed in the translation of a vast number of academic books.

[But Arabic doesn't have both "Q" and "KH" to which latin scripts have enabled Somali literature more open space to operate. For instance, Khadro, and Qadar Ilaah.]

I didn't know Arabic doesn't have both "Q" and "KH"; which one does it have?

It does. Qaaf and Kha. This Somali2003 is talking nonsense as he usually does.

[quote="Starscream"]There already is a unique Somali script, by Somalis for Somalis. And you just told me to learn and read more Somali history. Oh, the irony!

http://somalinet.com/library/osmaniya/[/quote]


It looks like the Ethiopian script!!!

[It looks like the Ethiopian script!!!]

That's it; you just killed the hopes of the few who were considering to adopt it.

Arabman, the decision to accept the latin based orthographies as opposed to the Arabic vowel, earlier introduced to Somalia by Yusuf bin Ahmed Al-Kowneyn and known as Harakaat historically was arduous and took many years.

Cusmaaniya was our truly indigeneous script and it has perfect alphabet, and all the vowels long and short. It was recommended by many scholars both Somali and foreign. The rejection of Arabic came as a result of a long debate. Because many Somalis were educated in Arabic madrasa and could write Arabic fluently, the argument was that those who learned Arabic would see the Somali language as "poor and inferior"

The Somali language written in Latin script could promote both linguistic and cultural rights If Osmaaniya is to be abandoned and it was mainly regarded the language of the civil service. In 1960, a commission was appointed to undertake a scientific assessment of the best script compatible with the Somali language. They used 16 criteria from the technical side of assessment. And I quote,

"Is it phonetic? Is it simple in lettering? Have its letters any diacritics? Has it any sign? Which one has more than one faction? Has it any printing machines available? etc etc."

They forwarded their report and concluded that the latin script was the right choice and most beneficial for the Somali literature.

Then came the choice between the Latin and Indigeneous scripts. Another commission was appointed during Abdirizak Haji's government. The committee also concluded that the latin would be a favorable script based on scientific and technical grounds. However, it was vehemently opposed by Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke who insisted on the implementation of Osmaniya script. So it wasn't until the Supreme Revolutionary Council led by Korshel and Bare that finally fulfilled the goal of adopting the latin script for both political and scientific decisions. Printing machines were available for the latin but not for the Indigeneous one. One year after the latin script was made to be the national scriopt 10,000 books were published, the first of which was "Aqoondaro waa u nacab Jacayl" by Faarax M. Cawl. RIP.

To conclude my remarks, I would agree with the findings of the 1966 committee and how the latin script easily facilitated the integration of Somalia with the rest of the world.

Arabic script would have definately relegated our Somali language and many Somalis today would have faced gradual erosion of their mother tongue.

Apart from the technical problems that the 1966 committee found, it seems their fear of that time became reality right after the Islamist captured Mogadisho.

Nuruddin Farah, in his article, "My Life as a Diplomat" has this to say,

"What struck me in these conversations was the presence of Arabic. These men, I surmised, had received their education in Sudan, Libya or Kuwait. For the first time since the Middle Ages, Arabic was the lingua franca in Mogadishu; Somali was practically a second language."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/26/opinion/26farah.html

Arabman
I think this essentially comes down to a religious question for you. Which should be no surprise, as everything in your life comes down to a religious question. If the Qur'an were written in latin script, and Somalia had adopted Arabic, you would be arguing for Latin script.