Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>]

On 02/08/2005 17:46, Vadim Cherny wrote:

> > > Iod is pronounced as a vowel in 3ms FT, and there is no evidence
> > > whatsoever that it ever was pronounced as consonant, at least as 3ms FT
> > > prefix.
> > > If you are inclined to dwell into this issue, it is my belief that iod in
> > > 3ms FT is mater lections derived from he in 3ms nouns. A similar process
> > > made iod 2fs FT suffix where we could expect he.
> > >      
> > No Hebrew word, that is ZERO!, starts with a mater lectionis.
> >    
>
> That is an assumption, not  a fact.
> Definite article, aleph in Aramaic, may be a contrary example.
>
>  
It is not a counter example, because the he in the definite article is 
clearly pronounced. If you don't accept this, then provide me with a 
proper counter example.

> ...
>
> > A suffix is a suffix and cannot be separated off as part of a word. If
> > the final -iy suffix were to be written separately, it would need to be
> > prefixed with alef, as in the word 'iy = "island, coastland".
> >    
>
> I don't see the point.
>  

The point is simply that Hebrew words NEVER begin with vowels.


--
Peter Kirk
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peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
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