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Transliteration

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Transliteration represents Arabic letters in another writing system, usually Latin characters. Arabic transliteration ranges from formal schemes to informal systems such as Arabizi.

An antique radio with Arabic script displayed on the front, surrounded by a warm glow from a vintage lamp and a decorative background featuring Arabic calligraphy. Paper with intricate designs rests on the surface beneath the radio.
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SATTS: The Forgotten U.S. Military System for Transliterating Arabic in the Cold War

When Arabic characters couldn't be displayed, SATTS (Standard Arabic Technical Transliteration System) offered a solution. Reginald Hefner takes a historical look at this pre-digital military system, explaining how it allowed Arabic to be read and written in Latin characters without pronunciation cues, and its role during the Cold War era.