Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>]

On 19/01/2004 13:39, Trevor Peterson wrote:

> ...
>
> > All this 
> > half-lengthening stuff sounds like 19th century German 
> > over-classification (and it does come from Gesenius).
> >    
>
> Actually, it's from Jouon. Maybe he got some of the idea from Gesenius,
> but I'd hesitate to say that he just bought into someone else's idea.
> Jouon had his own ideas (not always rightly, IMO). ...
I realised you had quoted Joüon (surely you can manage his diaresis?), 
but I found something rather similar in GKC 20m and 22c.

> ... Regardless of where
> it comes from, I think the argument stands that there ought to be some
> explanation for why the dagesh could drop out and leave a short vowel in
> an apparently open syllable. ...
To me, the obvious answer is that the sheva loses its sound in this 
environment and so the syllable remains closed without the dagesh. No 
need for speculation about half doubling or virtual strengthening. The 
problem with that is only the implication that HAL:LW. is pronounced 
hallu. In favour of Joüon and GKC is the odd fact that het, he and `ayin 
can close a syllable and open a new one without taking dagesh.


--
Peter Kirk
peter AT qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/