We do/did transcribe Iraq to fit our language. We omit the definite article (it’s pronounced closer to al’iraaq), we omit the first consonant, the ‘ayn, which is sort of a gargly sound that has no English equivalent, we don’t bother with the distinction in Arabic between long and short vowels (the initial “i” in Iraq is the short vowel kisra, which is distinct from the long vowel yaa, the “a” is the long vowel alef, which is distinct from the short vowel damma), and the terminal “q” is actually a stand-in for another sound which doesn’t exist in English, the qaaf, sort of a hard k pronounced from the back of the throat (the Arabic letter looks a little bit like an English q and has a vaguely similar sound). Also, in the q – u sequence in English, the u is usually voiced, as a “w” (as in sequence), so Iraqui would look like it’s (possibly) pronounced “irakwee” rather than “irakee”. Similarly for Qatar, where the q is again standing in for a qaaf, and Quatar would look like it’s pronounced “kwatar”.

BTW, Germany is the modified Latin name for the region, Germania. We do the same with some Arab countries – we derive Egypt from the Greek aegyptos, while the Arabic name of the country is misr, and the pre-Arabic name is khem.

Although since Arabic langauge is written in Arabic and English is written in English I’m not sure why we don’t / didn’t transcribe the names to fit our language in the same way we turn what they call Deutschland into Germany, what they call Nihon into Japan and what they call Medīnat Yisrā’el into Israel, etc?

In a totally pitch-dark environment, like below the Enceladian ice, eyes probably wouldn’t evolve as they’d serve no useful function .. or would they?

Guess there’s always the possibilty of the Enceladese sea floor glowing via either vulcanism of some sort(s) or radioactivity so, hey, maybe I’m mistaken on this.

Only one way to find out for sure – & that’s why we need the funding!

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* Off topic but curious to know : Is ‘Zoological’ properly spelt with three ‘o’s or four ie. “Zoo-ology” instead? Why / why not? Anybody?

PS. Similar story – why do we drop the ‘i’ from Spanish – shouldn’t it be really be “Spainish” plus why isn’t ‘Iraqi’ spelt ‘Iraqui’ following the ‘u’ after ‘q’ rule? Anyone know and care to enlighten us please?

Well not literally, it would be kind of cramped and cold.

What kind of cheese? American? Swiss? Any of the other nation state cheeses?

My Little Enceladans: Funding Is Magic

Wait… Enceladians? Enceladii? Enceladites?

They’re called Enceladas. And of course they’re edible; they come in either cheese or chicken.

Hey, at least I admit I’d abuse the power.

Wait… Enceladians? Enceladii? Enceladites?

i’d like to suppose that it’s biolumenescent.

That’s a requirement.

Me (like a boss as a Senator): So there is life there?
Dr. Plait: We’re sure of it, but we need to probe deeper. Deeper, I tell you!
Me: Is it biolumenescent?
Dr. Plait: Probably not.
Me: Get out my office.

if we’re making radical conjectures, i’d like to suppose that it’s biolumenescent.

… and now I have a mental image of Phil Plait standing before Congress and getting them all to sing a JWST version of the Monorail Song…

On the topic of shout-outs in webcomics, I have theorized that cartoonists just like flirting with cute PhDs. I know I do.

marine rover

Hmm?? The spirit may be willing there but I reckon that’d be a missed opportunity because you’d be better off with a robot (mini) sub mission!

Here’s a prediction for y’all – if there is macroscopic life somewhere under the ice of Enceladus it’ll be totally eyeless and quite possibly transparent and colourless (or at least lacking pigmentation) just like many cave-dwelling species in similarly sub-terreanean (sub cryospheric?) environments here on Earth!

Mind you such minor nit-picky pedantry aside, I do love this cartooon.

Thanks again Zach Weiner, great work. [Raised beer salute.]

But given the tiger stripes and likely sub-ice crust ocean would that be life *on* Enceladus or life *in* Enceladus?

PS. Good Youtube video on Encladus linked to my name here thanks to AggManUK.