Nassim Nicholas Taleb @nntaleb
SEMITIC PHILOLOGY DU JOUR The name Dimashq دمشق was almost never used in Ar. for 1200 y before Orientalists, but exoname "AlSham" الشام ("the North"). For Ottomans "Şam Sancağı" Hint: There are family names "Shami", no "Dimashqi". Same for Jerusalem: اورشليم was القدس.(=>Qudsi) — PolitiTweet.org
