Mamoun Sakkal has an excellent short history of Arabic writing and calligraphy. (Via Eclogues.)
Addendum. Directly below the Arabic link at Eclogues is one to The New and complete manual of Maori conversation : containing phrases and dialogues on a variety of useful and interesting topics : together with a few general rules of grammar : and a comprehensive vocabulary (Wellington, N.Z.: Lyon and Blair, Printers, Lambton Quay, MDCCCLXXXV, Rights Reserved). Sample exchanges:
Here is some good wine
Tênei tetahi waina pai rawa
I am a teetotaller, and do not taste wine
He titotara ahau, e kore ahau e inu i te waina
Are you fond of shooting?
Ka nui tōu pai ki te pupuhi?
Very fond
Nui rawa atu
Wish I could find a diagram of Abul-Aswad's vocalization system. It sounds interesting.
Posted by: Justin at April 28, 2003 09:27 AMit needs more aribic letters and senteces
Posted by: Jhon at December 19, 2003 04:35 PMim looking to get my name in arabic writing
either both brittany and stephenson. Can anyone help me?
I am trying to find someone who can help me out. I want to get a tattoo in arabic writing, but I don't trust the online translators and I dont know anyone who speaks arabic!!!! I wanted to get strenght, hope, peace and love. I have no idea how to go about doing this though!
Posted by: megan at May 7, 2005 06:01 PMBoth myself and my friend are wanting to get a tattoo of our childrens names in arabic, but the local tattooist does not have arabic lettering and has asked us to get a copy of what we want and he will copy it.
My son's name is Ben, and my friends son's name is Jack.
Please can you help?
Thankyou
Jennifer
Posted by: jennifer pendlebury at June 16, 2005 04:35 AM"Ben" would be "بِن" - just "بن" without vowels.
For "Jack", I could find the spelling "جك" for Jack Nicholson, and "جاك" for the Robin Williams movie called "Jack".
I hope this is some help.
In its earliest stages (3rd century B.C.) modern Arabic writing looks similar to Hebrew and Punic (Phoenecian) writing. This is because they all descend from an older form of Semitic writing, called "Aramaic." As time went on, Arabic script evolved very differently from the other two, and by the Muslim period, several caligraphies were developed for it.
Not that I wish to sound mean, but I think that Mr. Sakkal's book is a good introductory to Arabic writing and its history only for someone who has no prior knowledge of the subject. However, for me, the author traverses material that I have seen for years in other books on alphabets.
Posted by: Brian at June 16, 2005 05:59 PMCan anyone tell me how to write 'arzina' and 'precious' in arabic? thanks
Posted by: Arzina at June 16, 2005 06:33 PMHi there im looking to see if anyone knows what the name joe looks like in arabic as im having a tattoo and cant find it any where i would be so pleased if anyone can get in touch with me that knows of any arabic thank you
Posted by: lisa at June 19, 2005 04:02 PMlooking to get a tattoo in arabic can anyone help me the name i want is brieanna if anyone can help a would be greatfull nice one
Posted by: barry at June 21, 2005 01:50 AMcan somebody help and show me what the words 'ELAOUAD' and 'TOUASSI' look like in calligraphy arabic writing
Posted by: Youness at June 27, 2005 12:05 PMhello,
i am looking for the arabic word and spelling of the "peace" and the hebrew word and spelling of the "peace."
For hebrew i have שלום
but i can't find the arabic word yet.
can you help me?
I would like to find a beautiful script of both words in the respective languages...
thank you.
Sean
UPDATE...
I'm looking just for the word PEACE in arabic and hebrew.
thanks.
hi all,i wonder if anyone could help me with some arabic,im wanting to know what 'courage' is in arabic,hope you can help,cheers...x
Posted by: andrea smith at July 3, 2005 01:56 PMJur'a or jara'a.
Posted by: language hat at July 4, 2005 10:56 AMi am looking into possibly getting a tattoo in arabic writing, however i want to make sure that i have the correct writing before proceeding with getting the tattoo.
Posted by: josette at July 7, 2005 01:09 PMI would like to know what the words, love, compassion, faith and forgiveness look like in arabic script. Thank you.
Sara
hello im looking to have a tattoo of my b/fs name in arabic writing, the name is james could anyone help me?ive looked everywhere! many thanks
Posted by: beckie at July 18, 2005 11:40 AMI need help translating the phrase "when you say nothing at all" to either arabic and/or hebrew.
Thanks!
does anyone know how to spell strength or determination in arabic?
Posted by: appleonia at July 20, 2005 02:59 PMI would like to know the work for Dancer. Im looking at it for a Tattoo
Posted by: Casey at July 20, 2005 03:03 PMHi, I was told by an old bearded Tunisian that my surname implies I'm a Sephardic Jew. How would I write it in Arabic script, to allow me to look this up? ;-)
Posted by: Aidan Kehoe at July 20, 2005 03:19 PM*goes mad*
Posted by: language hat at July 20, 2005 05:28 PMme and my boyfriend were wondering if anyone knew the arabic words for 'danielle' and 'christopher' please.
Posted by: danielle at August 6, 2005 09:03 AMOK, that does it. I'm closing comments on this post. I used to try to be amused, but now I'm disgusted.
Posted by: language hat at August 6, 2005 09:56 AM