When Ethan Bronner discusses Arabic words in the New York Times: "Many use the Arabic word “tahadiya,”. The reason why Arabic gets so corrupted in U.S. newspapers is that the reporters, who almost to a person, don't know Arabic rely on Israeli Orientalists/officials, whose knowledge of Arabic is poor--at best. Take this word now: "tahadiya". Of course, it does not read or write Arabic, and it is close to a word "tahadiyyat" which means challenges. Bronner had in mind what he was told: but the word he wanted is "tahdi'ah", which means calming down. That of course reminds you of that African village whose residents took up obscene names to refer to themselves only to fool that visiting American anthropologist who did not know their language. (thanks Mick)