Reference library
Comprehensive guide to major romanization schemes used for various languages
Chinese names and terms can look remarkably different when written in Roman letters. The Chinese capital 北京 appears today as Beijing, but older English-language materials often call it Peking. The philosopher 老子 may be written Laozi or Lao-tzu. 毛泽东 appears as Mao Zedong in modern Pinyin and Mao Tse-tung in Wade–Giles. 清 may be written […]
Selecting an appropriate romanization system involves balancing linguistic accuracy, practical use, and official guidelines. This article outlines the factors to consider, historical development, and common pitfalls, helping readers make an informed decision for their language or project.
Romanization converts non‑Latin scripts into the Latin alphabet using standardized methods. This article surveys the history, major standards, transliteration versus transcription, and practical applications such as passports, cartography, and digital indexing.
Learn how to romanize names from various languages into English script, covering native name order, official systems, family name placement, spacing, passport rules, and common variants. Includes examples, quick facts, and expert tips for accurate name conversion.
A comprehensive guide to Persian romanization systems, including ALA-LC, DMG, Unipers, and BGN/PCGN. Covers alphabet charts, vowel and consonant representation, diacritics, word separation, capitalization, and real-world examples. Essential for linguists, students, and travelers.
Explore the Hepburn romanization system for Japanese, its rules, alphabet chart, and practical examples. Learn which romanization to use for academia, travel, and digital communication.
An exhaustive overview of the Can Romanization system, its origins, character tables, rules, pronunciation mapping, and practical usage. Includes comparisons, tools, and best‑practice advice for linguists and developers.
Explore the differences between Modified and Traditional Hepburn romanization for Japanese, with detailed rules, charts, real‑world examples, and guidance on choosing the right system for academic, travel, or digital use.
This guide explains how Hanyu Pinyin romanizes Mandarin Chinese, covering its history, rules, tone marks, and practical examples. It compares major systems, offers usage recommendations, and points to reliable converters.
A comprehensive guide to Ukrainian romanization systems, including the official national standard, ISO 9, ALA-LC, and BGN/PCGN. Learn the rules, see comparison tables, and get practical examples for academic, travel, and digital use.