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b-hebrew - RE: "Non-Academic" Original Languages?

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Subject: Biblical Hebrew Forum

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  • From: "Trevor & Julie Peterson" <06peterson AT cua.edu>
  • To: "Biblical Hebrew" <b-hebrew AT franklin.metalab.unc.edu>
  • Subject: RE: "Non-Academic" Original Languages?
  • Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 22:04:05 -0500


Serge wrote:

> I understand that Randall Buth actually teaches contemporary Hebrew (in
> spite of his claims to the contrary), but the vocabulary is restricted
> wherever possible to BH, `a$er rather than $e, no niknas etc.

I haven't gone through the Hebrew program myself, but he's more careful than
that. I'm not saying the material is pure, unadulterated BH, but I think he
makes a conscious effort to depart from IH syntax where BH does so.

[snipped]

> I prefer to have the students taught real BH and/or real contemporary
> Israeli Hebrew and/or real Mishnaic Hebrew, but each thing genuine and
> taught by different methods (IH like Spanish, BH like Akkadian).

I tend to agree. My point is that I think a foundation of IH would help
students develop greater fluency than is normal when only BH is studied.

[snipped]

> I believe analytical keys, morphologically tagged editions
> etc. are just
> awful for beginners because, evidently, learners will never get
> the joy of
> developing their own thoughts. It is pure imitation of having the real
> thing.

I agree completely.

> True, Huehnergard does have made-up things in the basic vocabulary and
> grammar exercises of each lesson (incidentally, I once made my
> student do
> them, but I am not going to repeat this experience), and he was criticised
> for it by the reviews.

We didn't work on them much (contrary to our practice of reading *all* the
actual texts in the exercises), but they were useful for drilling certain
aspects of the language.

> I believe Ugaritic is best taught as an exercise in comparative
> Semitics.
> It is not a "language", exactly as Mesha Inscription or Tell-Fahariyya
> inscription are no "languages"

Which is basically how we do it. But to do that, students need a good
foundation of other Semitic languages, which doesn't seem to be the case in
a lot of programs.

Trevor Peterson
CUA/Semitics





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