Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Peter Kirk <peter AT qaya.org>]

On 31/01/2006 22:21, Herman Meester wrote:

> ...
>
>
> It is quite possible that Hebrew once had (no longer visible) case
> endings, in the same way modern standard Arabic (on the higher
> stylistic level at least) still has.
>  

As I understood it, these endings are never actually used in modern 
Arabic, but only in classical texts, and I suppose a few deliberate 
imitations of classical texts. If I am wrong here, I would be interested 
to know - as I am trying to study Arabic.

> However, if we have original case endings that have ossified and no
> longer function as case endings, such as the word layla לילה, which is
> probable the "accusative" of layl ליל, cf.  יומם ולילה yomam wa-layla,
> then this is indicated with a mater lectionis ה hey.
>
> The fact that לילה layla, unlike feminine words ending on -a ה, has
> penultimate stress, proves this. ...

Is the directional he suffix also an ossified accusative ending? This is 
also unstressed, I think, and is also written with a he mater lectionis.


> ... Third, Hebrew doesn't
> have real open syllables that have patach. ...

Patah is found in stressed open syllables in words with non-final stress 
like TAXAT "under" and BAYIT "house", and in the dual suffix -AYIM. But 
I suppose such words are basically segolates, with patah instead of 
segol next to a guttural or a yod, and so were originally closed by two 
consonants which became separated by the late addition of an unstressed 
vowel.

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