The Arabic Alphabet

-or- what I learned during Desert Storm

The information here is provided primarily for the use of Calligraphers like myself. I do not speak Arabic. I learned what I know from books and by taking the time to look at all the writing I could while in Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield/Storm.

Arabic writing does not work well as a printed form because its beauty comes for its rich variation in form and structure. Unlike most Western forms, with one symbol [upper and lowercase] for a sound, Arabic changes form based on where it is in the word. Initial letters are different from final versions, etc. Then there are the ligatures. The letters combine different ways. The forms are simple and inspire florishes.

For the English speaking scribe to do well with Arabic writing, he/she/it/other must, in my opinion, have a basic understanding of phonetics. Arabic is not English. Arabic has sounds that English doesn't and English has sounds that Arabic doesn't. This is further confused by regional dialects, in both languages.

For more information, start with Alphabets and Writing.

This continues to be a work in progress.

Enjoy!