AD HOC COMMITTEE RE TRANSLITERATION OF NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS AND OTHER UNUSUAL WORDS OR PHRASES.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81-00706R000100220016-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 11, 2013
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: October 11, 1948
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in 1- Pa ?
.rt - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/12/11 :
CIA-RDP81-00706R000100220016-0J
V
? Office Memorandum ? UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : Assistant Director for Operations DATE: 11 October 1948
FROM : Chief, Foreign Documents Branch
SUBJECT: Ad Hoc Committee re Transliteration of Names of Individuals and
Other Unusual Words or Phrases.
1. It has recently come to the attention of this Branch that
there is a general lack of uniformity in the transliteration of the
names of individuals from.the original foreign language into English;
as for example, from Russian, Korean, Chinese and Siamese.
2. This lack of uniformity greatly hampers the collection of
intelligence and the later assembling of the proper material to pub-
lish a biographic report. It has been found that the sane individual
may be carried under several names, each name thought to represent a
separate identity.
3. FBIB has a peculiar problem in the above respect inasmuch as
they do not see the written or printed name but are forced to try to
get it correctly through merely hearing it spoken over the air. This
problem would need special handling.
4. There are many occasions when words or phrases are found
that the standard dictionary translation does not appear to give the
proper sense or meaning when viewed in the light of the context of
the paragraph. These words or phrases also need to be uniformly
agreed upon as to meaning and use.
5. To correct the above it is recommended that an ad hoc
committee representing as many interested agencies as possible be
formed for the purpose of making recommendations to ICAPS as to the
character, membership, functions and limitations of a permanent
board similar to the presently established and functioning Board on
Geographic Names, to the financing of which CIA is a principle contri-
butor. This permanent board to be empowered to decide on the correct
spelling of all names and words other than geographic, to publish at
frequent intervals lists or cards of approved words, to be recognized
by all government agencies as the only official and final authority,
and to be directed to make suitable agreements with any similar
British or Allied boards for coordination and exchange of information.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/12/11:
CIA-RDP81-00706R000100220016-0
STAT