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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] Hataf qames / qames

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  • From: "Yitzhak Sapir" <yitzhaksapir AT gmail.com>
  • To: b-hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Hataf qames / qames
  • Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:32:54 +0000

On 10/18/06, Christopher V. Kimball wrote:

Is the hataf qames always pronounced with an "o" sound?

Why did the Masoretes choose a single vowel, qames, to represent either
an "ah" sound or (for a non-accented, closed syllable) an "o" sound?

The Tiberians did not have two sounds for that vowel. The qames was
always pronounced as an aw sound. The hataf was added to denote that
the syllable is open even though the vowel is short. In other cases it is
added
to denote that the schewa is mobile and should not be confused with a
quiescent schewa.

Yitzhak Sapir




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