Biblical Hebrew Forum

[c stirling bartholomew <cc.constantine AT worldnet.att.net>]

on 1/19/03 10:33 AM, Trevor Peterson wrote:

>> Are there really Semitic language specialists who cannot read biblical
>> Hebrew script? Do these people really exists or is this just a myth
>> propagated by publishers who just don't want to bother with the typesetting
>> problems?
> 
> Dunno. I can't recall ever meeting one, but I can conceive of a person 
> knowing
> how to work with the language from a comparative standpoint but not knowing
> the script. One issue could be the effort involved in retaining the script.

Trevor,

I have no problem with people using transliteration if it serves their
purpose. In the case where several languages are being compared,
transliteration is probably the best means of doing this.

On the other hand, if someone's goal is to learn to read OT Hebrew, the
linking of sound/sign/meaning in ones mind is fundamental to the process and
transliteration leaves out the sign.

If you learned Hebrew according to R.Buth's method you might end up with a
strong sound/meaning link that would make it easier to work with
transliterated material. But if you learned Hebrew via silent reading with
the square script, transliteration requires some extra mental effort to
read. 

Not everyone learns BH by hearing it.  Once the sound system of BH has been
mastered (I am not there yet) then reading transliteration should be less
difficult.

greetings, clay

--  
Clayton Stirling Bartholomew
Three Tree Point
P.O. Box 255 Seahurst WA 98062