Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Vadim Cherny" <VadimCherny AT mail.ru>]

> >The religious texts are pronounced were
> >clearly, with schwas and dageshes. Would you agree that pronouncing them
in
> >speech is uncomfortable? They come up much more natural in chanting.
>
> I am not sure what you mean by 'uncomfortable'? I don't see what is the
problem.
>
Vocal schwas are sufficiently uncomfortable to remain only in formal speech.
Dagesh hazak is also almost lost.

> I think you are confusing the spelling (including vowels) and the
> pronunciation.
>
The Masoretes recorded synchronic pronunciation. They did not put vowels
based on some invented grammar rules.

Vadim Cherny