Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Peter Kirk <peter AT qaya.org>]

On 03/02/2006 00:05, Karl Randolph wrote:
> ...
>
> What I have asked for is evidence from when everyone 
> can agree that Biblical Hebrew was spoken as a native 
> tongue, namely from before the Babylonian Exile. All I 
> have been given is theory, which I question, and data 
> from much later periods.
>   

You are asking for the impossible. How can there be direct evidence of 
such ancient pronunciations? But whenever anyone presents any indirect 
evidence, you dismiss it as "theory".
> The evidence for Biblical Hebrew having had a CV 
> structure is again theory, in this case my own based on 
> reading Tanakh a few times through in unpointed Hebrew. ...

Well, at least you admit that it is your theory, your word, against that 
of centuries of Hebrew scholars worldwide. This doesn't mean that you 
are wrong, but it does mean that if you want to convince others you need 
to present a really strong case, and not just your own subjective feelings.

> ...
>
> Oh for access to a native speaker from whom we could 
> learn how Biblical Hebrew was actually spoken. It may 
> have been different from what all of us think.
>   

Indeed.

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