Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Vincent DeCaen <decaen AT chass.utoronto.ca>]

we do assume vowel length oppositions underlyingly. we explain this as
a mismatch between underlying representations and surface outputs
(we follow the idea that surface length is predictable and so
nonphonemic).

some common alternations.

                        qal *u          hifil *i
long /VV/               YFQW.M          YFQIYM
short stressed /V/      YFQOM           YFQ"M
unstressed              WAY.FQFM        WAY.FQEM

in this case, a three way opposition is explained as a contrast
between /VV/ and /V/, and also in quality/length distinctions for /V/
under stress. vowel length is phonemic in underlying representations.

cheers
V
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Dr Vincent DeCaen     <decaen AT chass.utoronto.ca>
c/o Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, 4 Bancroft Ave., 2d floor
University of Toronto, Toronto ON, CANADA, M5S 1A1

Hebrew Syntax Encoding Initiative, www.chass.utoronto.ca/~decaen/hsei/
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The mind takes to a new idea the way the body takes to microbe:
It rejects it.  --P.D. Medawar