Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>]

On 20/01/2004 05:16, Christopher V. Kimball wrote:

> Mesorah Publications, in its Artscroll prayerbook series (i.e. "Siddur 
> Eitz Chaim") uses a rafe-like horizontal line above a sheva-ed 
> consonant to indicate a vocal sheva (sh'va na) except for the 
> consonant that is the first in the word. This is very helpful, but has 
> nothing to do with a rafe, as I understand it.
Well, *this* use of (pseudo-)rafe may be "a recent innovation, maybe 
imported from the Yiddish printers," for it is "certainly not a 
masoretic mark." This also implies dependence on a particular modern 
editor's judgment about which shevas are vocal, which may be different 
from the original Masoretic pronunciation.

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