Transliteration: meaning, definitions and examples
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transliteration
[ trænslɪtəˌreɪʃən ]
language conversion
Transliteration is the process of converting text from one script to another based on phonetic rather than semantic equivalence. It primarily concerns the representation of sounds, allowing one to read sounds of a language using the alphabet of another. This is often used when writing languages that use different writing systems, such as converting Cyrillic script into Latin script. Unlike translation, which conveys meaning, transliteration focuses on how the words are pronounced, making it useful for language learners and travelers.
Synonyms
phonetic spelling, script conversion
Examples of usage
- The name 'Mikhail' is a transliteration of the Russian name 'Михаил'.
- In academic works, you might find the transliteration of Chinese characters into English letters.
- Transliteration helps when reading foreign names in a language you understand.
- Common transliterations can simplify understanding of complex scripts.
Translations
Translations of the word "transliteration" in other languages:
🇵🇹 transliteração
🇮🇳 ट्रांसलिटरेशन
🇩🇪 Transliteration
🇮🇩 transliterasi
🇺🇦 транслитерація
🇵🇱 transliteracja
🇯🇵 転写
🇫🇷 translittération
🇪🇸 transliteración
🇹🇷 transliterasyon
🇰🇷 전사
🇸🇦 نقحرة
🇨🇿 transliterace
🇸🇰 transliterácia
🇨🇳 音译
🇸🇮 transliteracija
🇮🇸 transliteration
🇰🇿 транслитерация
🇬🇪 ტრანსლიტერაცია
🇦🇿 transliterasiya
🇲🇽 transliteración
Etymology
The term 'transliteration' originates from the Latin word 'transliterare,' which means 'to write across' or 'to write in another script.' This process has roots in ancient practices of rendering names and terms from one language into another, allowing speakers to pronounce foreign words more easily. Its use became more pronounced with the rise of global communication, especially as cultures met and mingled, requiring clarity in conveying names and places. In scholarly and linguistic contexts, transliteration systems were developed to standardize this conversion process, ensuring consistent representation across various languages. The need for transliteration grew with the expansion of languages that have traditionally non-Latin scripts, resulting in various methodologies to accommodate different phonological nuances. Today, transliteration remains an essential tool in linguistics, education, and travel, serving as a bridge between diverse languages and scripts.