Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2017 March 9

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March 9

Japanese Pronunciation--1940s

Calling all Japanese speakers. I do not speak Japanese, but I feel that the pronunciation in the following documentary showing General Tojo speaking in what should be 1941 differs somewhat from the pronunciation of contemporary Japanese. Please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzBRkIoSqGE starting at approximately 7:50. Admittedly, the sound quality is not good and may be distorting things. However, are there meaningful differences (class/register/etc.) that are reflected in his pronunciation, or is his pronunciation in the video more or less the same as current Japanese pronunciation? Thank you. --208.58.214.187 (talk) 13:28, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

Contemporary with what? Are you suggesting that Tojo was a time-traveler? —Tamfang (talk) 10:54, 15 March 2017 (UTC)

Arabic mosque sign

Something is written in big letters up above the door of the Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque in Alexandria. What does it say? Beorhtwulf (talk) 15:11, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

It says "اذكر الله", "ithkar Allah", or "remember Allah" (or "think of Allah", etc). Adam Bishop (talk) 16:53, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

Excellent, thank you. Beorhtwulf (talk) 17:22, 9 March 2017 (UTC)