Translating the Khalifate

[Mountain_King]

What with the coming of 1.9.6, and the addition of the Khalifate to mainline, my translating self is wondering how to translate all of the very Arabic unit names into non-Semitic languages. As I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering, I figured I'd start a thread here. For those of us unfamiliar with Arabic and the Khalifate faction, what do we need to know that will enable us to make the best translation (transliteration?) possible?

Best Regards,
Mountain_King

[ancestral]

For those of us unfamiliar with Arabic and the Khalifate faction, what do we need to know that will enable us to make the best translation (transliteration?) possible?

The English translation just uses the Arabic names. Why not just use the Arabic names for other languages too?

[hhyloc]

We should keep the name as it is now. IMO, there's a reason behind those Arabic name, it gives the Khalifate faction a unique feel, not some loyalists with Arabic clothes. If we translate the Khaiyal into something like Horseman, Всадник, Reiter or Marcach..., or if we translate the Arif into something like Swordsman, Фехтовальщик or Espadachín ... we'll basically have the same Loyalist faction again, that would be too awkward I think.

[Mountain_King]

It gives the Khalifate faction a unique feel, not some loyalists with Arabic clothes.

I was kind of wondering the same thing, but I wanted to make sure before I started translating. That makes sense to me!

[mameluke]

I opened a thread about Khalifate naming and linked this thread there.
http://forums.wesnoth.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=33893

[perseo]

In my opinion (I'm spanish) I think in the kalifate like a folk very concerned about their honor and one important thing is using tons of courtesy formulas. That's more or less the image that in spain is of the medieval arabic folk.
Of course that are prototipic ideas that can offend some people so If you find offensive please tell me.

[CloudiDust]

As a Simplified Chinese translator, I cannot leave the names as they are - Chinese is not based on Latin alphabet. To retain the uniqueness of the Khalifate, transliteration is required. However I have no knowledge of Arabic, thus no idea about how those unit names are pronounced. Would anyone please tell me something about this? Thanks in advance.