A fact from Yakun appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 16 May 2008, and was viewed approximately 1,731 times (disclaimer) (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:
Did you know... that scholars disagree on whether the name of the Viking chieftain Jakun means either "blind" or "the handsome one"?
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Biography, a collaborative effort to create, develop and organize Wikipedia's articles about people. All interested editors are invited to join the project and contribute to the discussion. For instructions on how to use this banner, please refer to the documentation.BiographyWikipedia:WikiProject BiographyTemplate:WikiProject Biographybiography articles
This article has been automatically rated by a bot or other tool because one or more other projects use this class. Please ensure the assessment is correct before removing the |auto= parameter.
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Norse history and culture, a WikiProject related to all activities of the NorthGermanic peoples, both in Scandinavia and abroad, prior to the formation of the Kalmar Union in 1397. If you would like to participate, you can edit the article attached to this page, or visit the project page, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion.Norse history and cultureWikipedia:WikiProject Norse history and cultureTemplate:WikiProject Norse history and cultureNorse history and culture articles
Latest comment: 15 years ago7 comments2 people in discussion
Since the Primary Chronicle is written in Old Church Slavonic and I guess the first letter in his name there is written with Я his name in English would be Yakun and not Jakun. Jakun would be the Swedish transliteration. Narking (talk) 20:51, 17 July 2008 (UTC)Reply
Yes, it's true that it is the scientific transliteration, but that is not the most common one that's used, and certainly not here in Wikipedia. For anglophones Ja would give another pronunciation than the original sound, which is closer to Ya. For example you will find Yakov and not Jakov here. See also BGN/PCGN romanization of Russian. Narking (talk) 18:57, 24 July 2008 (UTC)Reply
Concerning names that are unknown to most English-speakers, I always stick to how names are presented in scholarly literature, since that is where English-speakers will find the names off-wiki. If English-speakers are likely to misunderstand the pronunciation, I think it's better to add an IPA pronunciation guide.--Berig (talk) 19:46, 24 July 2008 (UTC)Reply
I still think it would be better with Yakun. Especially when Yaroslav I the Wise is mentioned in the same article. There Я has become Ya, but Yakun has become Jakun even though they both start with the same letter. It may not be according to scientific transliteration, but it's immediately understandable for anglophones and not just for Scandinavians and Germans. At least an IPA pronunciation guide and a redirect are needed here. Narking (talk) 20:51, 24 July 2008 (UTC)Reply
Googling, I have got some hits where he is spelled with Ya-, so it's only fair to have both transliterations in the intro. It's nice to see a fellow Närking here, and I just came back from spending some time over there. I loved hearing the Närking pronunciation of roligt with the thick l and the twang to the i again :).--Berig (talk) 06:11, 25 July 2008 (UTC)Reply
I can't say I have that much twang to the i, but I guess people can figure out which province I'm from anyway :) And I must say that the scientific transliteration of Cyrillic letters is much better, but unfortunately most anglophones wouldn't understand it. Narking (talk) 17:11, 25 July 2008 (UTC)Reply
