Biblical Hebrew Forum

["VC" <vadim_lv AT center-tv.net>]

Dear Harold,

> >>Recently, a student inquired me of the origin of segollate words
> >>(kelev). I have never particularly dwelled on the problem, and a
> >>quick search both in the library and Internet did not produce much
> >>suggestions.
> >>
> >>
> >See Gesenius et al section 84a part I, which gives a clear
> >explanation of the origin of segholates from originally monosyllabic
> >forms, based on evidence from Arabic etc. Gesenius' explanation is
> >quite different from your speculative one.
>
>
> HH: Here is a link that has some interesting comments about segholate
> forms and bibliography:
>
>
http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:5NBq86j95IMJ:www.chass.utoronto.ca/~decaen/papers/Coetzee_review.doc+segholate+forms+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Thank you for the reference. I see that DeCaen also belives in CVCVC origin
of segholates, unlike Gesenius. However, DeCaen concentrates on late
Tiberian dialect when, indeed, the second vowel turned into shwa. I try to
answer why this transformation took place.


Sincerely,

Vadim Cherny