Key Features of Transliteration:
* Preservation of Pronunciation: The goal is to ensure that the transliterated text sounds as similar as possible to the original language.
* Different Writing Systems: It involves converting words from one writing system (e.g., Arabic) to another (e.g., Latin alphabet).
* Letter-for-Letter Conversion: Transliteration typically involves a systematic mapping of letters or symbols from one alphabet to another.
* Phonetic Representation: Transliteration often involves using diacritics or special characters to represent sounds that may not exist in the target writing system.
Examples of Transliteration:
* Russian to English: "Москва" (Moscow) is transliterated as "Moskva."
* Arabic to English: "السَّلامُ عَلَيْكُمْ" (Peace be upon you) is transliterated as "as-salamu alaykum."
* Greek to English: "Ἀθήνα" (Athens) is transliterated as "Athēnai."
Uses of Transliteration:
* Pronunciation Guides: Transliteration helps non-native speakers pronounce words or names from other languages.
* Linguistic Studies: Transliteration is used in comparative linguistics to analyze and compare different languages.
* Communication: Transliteration facilitates communication between people who speak different languages.
* Data Entry and Processing: It enables the input and storage of data in different writing systems.
Note: Transliteration is distinct from translation, which involves conveying the meaning of a text rather than just its pronunciation.