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Flagoid logo on Spanish army vehicles in Iraq (Spain)

Last modified: 2008-12-26 by eugene ipavec
Keywords: text: arabic (black) | isbaniya |
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[Flag-like logo on Spanish army vehicles in Iraq (Spain)] 2:3
image by Jorge Hurtado, exported to GIF format by Santiago Dotor, 14 May 2004



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Description

Spanish army vehicles operating in Iraq July 2003-May 2004 used a flag-like logo, painted (or maybe it was a decal) on vehicles' sides, doors etc., consisting of a Spanish flag with, instead of the coat-of-arms, the word Spain in black Arabic lettering. This logo has never, as far as I know, been used as an actual flag, either for hoisting or otherwise.

Source: Gaceta de Banderas, May 2004 issue, article by Jorge Hurtado

Santiago Dotor, 14 May 2004

Spain in Arabic is Isbaniya, which in Arabic letters would be: Alif (with hamza below) - Sim - Be - Alif - Nun - Ye - Alif, i.e. اسبانيا:

  • The vertical stroke standing alone on the right is the alif, the omitted hamza (dot) below which makes it pronounced "i" (that hamza is typically omitted except in formal usage.)
  • The first three bumps reading right to left are the letter sim, or "s".
  • The next bump with the dot below it is the letter be, or "b".
  • The vertical stroke connected to the be is another alif, this time pronounced as a long "a".
  • The first bump in the next connected string, with the dot above it, is the letter nun. You can't see it, because it isn't normally written, but there's a short i sound with the nun, which makes this pronounced "ni".
  • The next bump to the left, with two dots below it, is the letter ye, pronounced "y".
  • The last vertical stroke on the left, connected to the ye, is another alif, or long "a".
Put it all together and it spells Isbaniya, which is about as close to España as you can get in Arabic.

Joseph McMillan, 14-19 May 2004