Editing Taliban (section)

== Etymology ==
The word ''Taliban'' is Pashto, {{lang|ps|طَالِباَنْ}} ({{transliteration|ps|ṭālibān}}), meaning "students", the plural of {{transliteration|ps|[[Talibe|ṭālib]]}}. This is a [[loanword]] from Arabic {{lang|ar|طَالِبْ}} ({{transliteration|ar|ṭālib}}), using the Pashto plural ending ''-ān'' {{lang|ps|اَنْ}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of TALIBAN |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Taliban |access-date=8 July 2021 |website=merriam-webster.com}}</ref> (In Arabic {{lang|ar|طَالِبَانْ}} ({{transliteration|ar|ṭālibān}}) means not "students" but rather "two students", as it is a [[Dual (grammatical number)|dual]] form, the Arabic plural being {{lang|ar|طُلَّابْ}} ({{transliteration|ar|ṭullāb}})—occasionally causing some confusion to Arabic speakers.) Since becoming a loanword in English, ''Taliban'', besides a plural noun referring to the group, has also been used as a singular noun referring to an individual. For example, [[John Walker Lindh]] has been referred to as "an American Taliban" rather than "an American Talib" in domestic media. This is different in Afghanistan, where a member or a supporter of the group is referred to as a ''Talib'' (طَالِبْ) or its plural ''Talib-ha'' (طَالِبْهَا). In other definitions, Taliban means 'seekers'.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Taliban |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125133400/https://www.lexico.com/definition/taliban |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 November 2020 |title=Taliban |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref>

In English, the spelling ''Taliban'' has gained predominance over the spelling ''Taleban''.<ref name="Arabic Dictionary">{{Cite web |date=28 December 2006 |title=English <-> Arabic Online Dictionary |url=http://online.ectaco.co.uk/main.jsp?do=e-services-dictionaries-word_translate1&status=translate&lang1=23&lang2=ar&source_id=2248807 |access-date=2 September 2012 |publisher=Online.ectaco.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Curtis |first=Adam |title=From 'Taleban' to 'Taliban' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/from_taleban_to_taliban.html |access-date=2 September 2012 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> In [[American English]], the [[definite article]] is used, the group is referred to as "the Taliban", rather than "Taliban". In English-language media in Pakistan, the definite article is always omitted.<ref>{{Citation |title=Intra-Afghan peace talks set to begin in Doha |date=6 September 2020 |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1578164 |work=Dawn}}</ref> Both [[Pakistani English|Pakistani]] and [[Indian English]]-language media tend to name the group "Afghan Taliban",<ref>{{Citation |title=Pakistan cautions Afghan Taliban against spoilers |date=26 August 2020 |url=https://nation.com.pk/26-Aug-2020/pakistan-cautions-afghan-taliban-against-spoilers |work=The Nation}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=US President Trump's Afghan troop withdrawal is a gift to the Taliban |date=28 November 2020 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/us-president-trumps-afghan-troop-withdrawal-is-a-gift-to-the-taliban-921044.html |work=Deccan Herald}}</ref> thus distinguishing it from the [[Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan|Pakistani Taliban]]. Additionally, in Pakistan, the word ''Talibans'' is often used when referring to more than one Taliban member.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban is frequently called the {{lang|fa|گرُوهْ طَالِبَانْ}} ({{transliteration|fa|Goroh-e Taleban}}), Dari term which means 'Taliban group'.<ref>{{Cite web |title=اعلام آماده‌گی طالبان برای گفت‌وگوهای صلح با امریکا |url=https://tolonews.com/fa/afghanistan/%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87%E2%80%8C%DA%AF%DB%8C-%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%DA%AF%D9%81%D8%AA%E2%80%8C%D9%88%DA%AF%D9%88%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%AD-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7 |access-date=19 August 2021 |website=طلوع‌نیوز |language=fa}}</ref> As per Dari/Persian grammar, there is no "the" prefix. Meanwhile, in Pashto, a [[determiner (linguistics)|determiner]] is normally used and as a result, the group is normally referred to as per Pashto grammar: {{lang|ps|دَ طَالِبَانْ}} ({{transliteration|pa|Da Taliban}}) or {{lang|ps|دَ طَالِبَانُو}} ({{transliteration|pa|Da Talibano}}).