3.1 General Principles for Non-English Terms

When discussing non-English words, students should usually either translate the term, transliterate it into Roman characters, or give the word in its original script. The best choice depends on the purpose of the paper, the student’s language training, and the importance of the word for the argument.

For ordinary student papers, a clear transliteration is usually sufficient. Original scripts may be used when the student has the necessary language training, when the original spelling matters for the argument, or when the instructor or publication requires it. Do not include original scripts merely for decoration. They should help the reader understand the discussion.

When a non-English word is important, give a brief translation or explanation the first time it appears. After that, the transliterated form may be used by itself if the meaning is clear.

• Right: The Greek word agapē means “love” and becomes an important technical term in Thelemic writing.
• Right: The Egyptian term khu refers to a luminous or spiritual aspect of the person.
• Wrong: The doctrine depends on agapē, khu, and ruach.

The wrong example introduces several non-English terms without explanation.

Use one transliteration system consistently. Do not switch spellings simply because different books or websites use different forms. If a source uses a spelling that differs from the form used in the paper, the difference may be noted in a footnote when relevant.

• Right: The paper refers to the tradition as Qabalah when discussing general Hermetic and Thelemic sources, and Qaballah when specifically referencing the English Qaballah of James Leeds. The spelling Kabbalah is reserved for Jewish contexts and for titles or quotations that use that form.
• Wrong: The paper describes the Tree of Life as a central symbol of Qabalah. In Crowley’s writings, Kabbalah is often interpreted through magical correspondences. Later Thelemic writers continued to develop Cabala in ritual and exegetical contexts.

Use diacritics only when they serve a purpose and can be reproduced accurately. For many student papers, simplified transliterations without extensive diacritical marks are acceptable, especially when the paper is not making a technical linguistic argument. When diacritics are used, they should be used consistently.

Students should not invent their own spellings for non-English words. Follow this guide, a reliable dictionary or lexicon, a standard transliteration system, or the spelling used in a major source. For specialized terms in Thelemic studies, use the standard form adopted in this guide unless there is a clear reason to discuss another spelling