Biblical Hebrew Forum

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

In my opinion, this is the same phenomenon as encountered
cross-linguistically in imperatives: reduction of first vowel, emphatic
elongation of the second.

let's go - l'ts goo!
record - r'cOrd!

So, schwa is indeed medium - not full reduction, but shortening close to
reduction.

Vadim Cherny

>
> Gesenius (section 46d) says that "the first syllable of the sing. fem. and
> plur. masc. are usually to be pronounced with shewa mobile" (and then
gives
> exceptions).
>
> Juoun (section 49c [note 1]), however, says "The shewa is 'medium,'" which
> would mean that the first syllable is closed even though it makes a
following
> bgdkft rafe.
>
> I don't see any discussion in Waltke & O'Connor.
>
> Can someone tell me what the latest credible scholarly opionion is?
> Thanks!
>
>
>
>