How Niqula Nasrallah Became John Jacob Astor: Syrian Emigrants Aboard the Titanic and the Materiality of Language

In this article, I explore the physical afterlife of one victim of the 1912 Titanic disaster, the Syrian American businessman Niqula Nasrallah, whose remains would widely be identified as those of the famous multimillionaire John Jacob Astor. Syrian emigrants constituted 10–20 percent of the Titanic’s third-class passengers, and their names were overwhelmingly altered as casualty lists were transmitted via an early form of radio. Such transformations only served to reinforce linguistic barriers, in direct contrast to widespread assertions that new technologies would enable instantaneous worldwide communication. A discussion of the substitution of Astor for Nasrallah thus allows insight into the production of confusion that resulted from the development of wireless technology as a linguistic medium.

Key Points

Background and Confusion:

Niqula Nasrallah was a Syrian emigrant who boarded the Titanic with his wife.
After the Titanic sank, Nasrallah’s body was recovered and mistakenly identified as John Jacob Astor due to the miscommunication and errors in transmitting names via early wireless telegraph technology.

Syrian Emigrants on the Titanic:

Syrian emigrants made up 10-20% of the Titanic’s third-class passengers.
Their names were often altered or misrepresented in casualty lists due to linguistic barriers and the limitations of early wireless communication.

Impact of Wireless Telegraphy:

The use of wireless telegraphy, an early form of radio, played a significant role in the confusion of names.
The technology, while innovative, often led to errors and reinforced linguistic barriers rather than breaking them down.

Broader Implications:

The article discusses the broader implications of these errors, including the reinforcement of racial, economic, and cultural discrimination.
It highlights how new communication technologies can both connect and divide people, depending on their implementation and the biases inherent in their use.

Historical and Cultural Context:

The article places the story within the context of early 20th-century migration, globalization, and the materiality of language.
It examines the ways in which identity and communication were affected by technological advancements and the socio-economic conditions of the time.

Conclusion:

The mistaken identity of Nasrallah as Astor serves as a case study for understanding the complexities of communication, identity, and power.
The article calls for a deeper understanding of the material relationships between language, technology, and power, and how these factors shape our perceptions and interactions.

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Citation:
Jess Bier (2008) How Niqula Nasrallah Became John Jacob Astor: Syrian Emigrants Aboard the Titanic and the Materiality of Language, Journal of Linguistic Anthropology, Vol. 18, No. 2

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