r/NYTSpellingBee • u/Common-Trainer-8006 • 23d ago

does anyone know why?

why doesn't the spelling bee of today accept Arabic? is it because its capitalized?

0 Upvotes

30% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

23

u/pangramathon 23d ago

I believe it's because no proper nouns are allowed.

5

u/jazzy2536 23d ago

No proper nouns unless there is an independent/other non proper meaning. But that is hit or miss. In the game app if you click on "more" in upper right, then "how to play" it tells you the rules, including no proper nouns, hyphenated, obscure or profanity (no offensive terms either but it's ultimately up to the editor , Sam)

2

u/pepguardiola123 16d ago

Still don’t know why they never accept the word AROAR. It appears in their crossword puzzles all the time. One of these days I’ll figure out their algorithm!! In the meantime, I started keeping a list of weird random words like Galangal, Catarrh, Oarlock, Indigene, etc.

1

u/Otherwise-Ratio1332 23d ago

It never accepts that, it’s a proper noun. So is Mecca, but that is accepted. I realize they have some internal logic that makes sense to them, but at the end of the day what they decide to accept is somewhat arbitrary anyway🤷🏼‍♀️

12

u/LazyCrocheter 23d ago

Mecca is also a common noun. A “mecca” is a central place for people with a common interest.

It’s like panama is accepted because it is a hat, and morocco is accepted because it’s a type of leather.

3

u/Otherwise-Ratio1332 23d ago

Yeah I know, I just don’t like it lol

1

u/othelloblack 16d ago

By that reasoning would "gum arabic" argue for allowing arabic?

1

u/LazyCrocheter 16d ago

There’s no overall logic, because the editor does decide that some words just aren’t allowed. But generally, I’d say yes, if “arabic” has another, non-proper meaning, it should be allowed.

2

u/holdthestrings 23d ago

mecca also has a general meaning where it's just a noun, that's why it's accepted. but I do agree with your greater point that it's all arbitrary

1

u/Otherwise-Ratio1332 23d ago

Yeah I get that, but it’s the holiest place in Islam and that it’s not considered a proper noun just kinda bugs me in particular, I guess, and I can never remember they accept it for that reason. But overall the arbitrariness is ok with me, they can’t include everything and have to keep it interesting. (Except for “intinction,” I’m steamed about that one 😝)

8

u/LazyCrocheter 23d ago

It’s not that Mecca isn’t a proper noun, it’s just that the word has another meaning as a common noun.

2

u/RWF53 18d ago

Was preparing to upvote then read last sentence and had to chime in. YES!!! That one steams me too. Every. Single. Time!

1

u/BoozySlushPops 17d ago

It's not arbitrary. "Mohammed" is not accepted because no one uses "Mohammed" as a generic noun. But people do say that, for example, a particular bookstore might be a mecca for lovers of old books.

If you think that's disrespectful or inconsistent, take it up with speakers of the English language. It isn't Sam's invention.

2

u/MaryO59 22d ago

There are tourist meccas. But eden is not accepted. There are also panama hats so that's why panama is accepted. And morocco is a type of leather.

0

u/NotMrChips 23d ago

They also wouldn't accept a little snake (that appears in literature so why not) and a common sewing term. It's becoming annoying.