Who is OBL?

I clearly remember on 9/11 that we were looking for a guy named ..get ready...

Usama Bin Laden....

notice the letter U in his name?

so why all of a sudden is he Osama Bin Laden?

Anyone know?

O and U are the same letters.

Been explained on some other thread, something about the arabic alphabet and how both versions are accepted. Nothing to see here, its just a weather balloon.

reply to post by Rockdisjoint


No..O and U are not the same letters..

and i want to know why the name is different now..

what changed?

Originally posted by baddmove
reply to post by Rockdisjoint

 

No..O and U are not the same letters..

and i want to know why the name is different now..

what changed?

Nothing changed.

Originally posted by baddmove
reply to post by Rockdisjoint

 

No..O and U are not the same letters..

and i want to know why the name is different now..

what changed?

Transliteration. It happens when you translate from a language that doesn't use Phoenician-derived letters.

In the United States, the Associated Press which sets the stylistic guidelines for most news sources declared that the spelling with the O was to be used instead of the U. In the US though, Fox News Channel for one has stuck to the U spelling.

In the United Kingdom, the BBC sets most of the stylistic guides and they also chose to go with the O spelling from day one.

Originally posted by baddmove
reply to post by Rockdisjoint

 

No..O and U are not the same letters..

and i want to know why the name is different now..

what changed?

Nothing. Actually there ARE no O or U, or any other vowels in Arabic. Vowels are added later using diacritial marks. Since the literal translation of Osama's name in Arabic does not contain O or U, it is up to the reader to automatically add whichever letter he likes (from recognising the word) or the writer to add the appropriate vowel in if they are using the markings.

So taking Osama's name in Arabic:

alif: أ
siin: س
alif: أ
miim: م
ha: ة


Since Arabic is a cursive language you join most of the letter's together as you write, so it becomes:

اسامة

(right to left). So literally read it's asamha / asamh (in english transliteration). Alif is not considered a 'vowel.'

Therefore it's just a variation among the people writing/saying it in English, and no difference to his actual Arabic written name.

reply to post by ProjectJimmy


Ahh..thank you..

I didn't know that..

reply to post by Hesperornis


And thank you also..

very nice information there..

Originally posted by baddmove
I clearly remember on 9/11 that we were looking for a guy named ..get ready...

Usama Bin Laden....

notice the letter U in his name?

so why all of a sudden is he Osama Bin Laden?

Anyone know?

It's always been Osama. At least, it has been over here.

Like how on UK tv and media it's "Gaddafi" but I've seen US media spell and pronounce it "Qaddafi"