Note on Transliteration
In line with Jabra’s lifelong practice, I’ve tried to make the Arabic names in this book approachable and pronounceable for Anglophone readers unfamiliar with Arabic. For example, I’ve rendered Sumaya for ‘Sumayyah’ (the ‘correct’ transliteration), Samaa for ‘Sammā‘,’ and Shanoub for ‘Shannūb.’ Where common equivalents exist – like Yasser for Yāsir or Bethlehem for ‘Bayt-laḥm’ – I’ve used them. Following Jabra’s example, I’ve sometimes used apostrophes, as in the name Khati’ah (Khaṭī’ah) in the short story ‘Arak’. I’ve kept certain monetary denominations, like fils, dirhams and dinars, as well as the Turkish honorary titles ‘Hanem’ for ‘Ms./Mrs.’ or ‘Lady,’ and ‘Pasha’ for ‘Mr.’ or ‘Sir,’ and the Arabic paedonymics ‘Umm’ for ‘mother of ’ and ‘Abu’ for ‘father of.’
