Does it coincide with some overall greater awareness of Muslim and Middle Eastern cultures [not the same thing] or are there simply fashions in spelling? If so are they started by reporters, statesmen, scholars? “How are you supposed to spell Muammar Gaddafi/Khadafy/Qadhafi?” has been asked here already. I also wonder as the the why of it all.

Topics: spelling, fashion, arabic, scholarship, newspaper, source, foreign words, statesmanship, idle curiousity