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Letters from the past

Gulf News looks back over the years at concerns and issues raised by readers in their letters to the newspaper. It's a retrospective that offers an insight into the community, the development of the country and the people. This week's letters are from 1982.

  • Gulf News Archives
  • Published: 23:01 August 14, 2008
  • Gulf News

Gulf News looks back over the years at concerns and issues raised by readers in their letters to the newspaper. It's a retrospective that offers an insight into the community, the development of the country and the people. This week's letters are from 1982.

Correct pronunciation
Is it too late to start a campaign for the proper pronunciation of the name of the country we live in? "Dew-buy" and "Abu Dubby" have now become internationally recognised as the hopelessly mispronounced names of our two biggest emirates. For unknown reasons, the rest of the Emirates have not been subject to this ridiculous pronunciation, although some of our radio announcers have been guilty of "Sharjer". Even more mysteriously, "Dew-buy" has crept back into spoken Arabic. Maybe it's a form of reverse snobbery. Fortunately "Dee-era" has departed with the last announcer of the Dubai English language radio station, was she a victim of a misspelling on a road construction sign? I remember when Kuwait was called "Kew-ite" but that monstrosity had thankfully disappeared long ago. It's as simple as the rain in Spain lying mainly on the plain, as far as Dubai is concerned, but Abu Dubby is inexcusable. And, if this campaign ever gets off the ground, maybe we can get around to stamping out the infamous practice of transliteration of English names into Arabic. Surely there must be a way of saying "Blue Eyes" in Arabic and not like that ridiculous inscription in Arabic on a shop on Al Wahda Street in Sharjah!
From Mr F.J. Lawrence
Sharjah

Theatre woes
All the promises of laughs at a recent dinner and theatre presentation started, unsurprisingly, with the menu. The shockingly austere plat du jour brought back unpleasant memories of one's harsh preparatory school days where, despite the exorbitant fee, dirty plates and cutlery were a standard presence. The food politely laid aside, our party used the Australian beverage provided to us to wash the aforesaid plates and cutlery. Better to use it to clean the utensils than cause personal injury. How right we were proved when presently we witnessed a stream of victims rushing out holding their stomachs. Everyone among our party felt unwell at this distressing sight, no doubt the intended appetiser for what awaited us behind the curtain. Last year the hotel gave in to pressure after its production had caused a stir - moral, not gastronomic - among parishioners and decent citizens. To appease theatre lovers, it responded with a splendid presentation of a comedy. No sooner had one's memories faded than the last two hours of blue jokes and sexual innuendoes, which had presumably failed elsewhere, were mercilessly dumped on Dubai's gullible theatre audience.
From Mr Abdul Ali Bin Ahmad Rahman
UAE

True spirit
This is in response to the statements in Gulf News ("More than rites and rituals", September 27). Your editorial speaks boldly and truthfully of the sad and painful state Muslims are in today. The real spirit of Islam as taught by the Holy Quran and shown by the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and the early Muslims is not to be seen. Ironically, a vast number of Muslims, who are educated and who read the Quran regularly, do not know the Arabic language. So instead of trying to study the texts carefully and convey their meanings to others, people are reading the Quran without understanding a single word. There has, however, been a reawakening in recent years and it is very heartening to note that more and more Muslims, particularly young men and women, are studying the Quran through translations in various languages.
From Mr K.S. Shahab Al Deen
UAE

Approved techniques
Gulf News's editorial on business management and training was of considerable interest to the Dubai Aluminium Company Limited (Dubal). Any attempt to upgrade skills and knowledge is always a good thing. It is important that supervision is included in any discussion on management training, since the supervisor is the man who turns the management's thoughts and plans into action. Though the questionnaire system works well, Dubal has found that an interview using a skilled interviewer is much more effective for discovering what is needed. Using the interview, one can develop courses to meet specific needs.
From Mr Mike Almond
Dubai

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