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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] Two X letters

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  • From: Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu>
  • To: K Randolph <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>
  • Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Two X letters
  • Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 23:13:47 -0400

Karl,

The two suppositions are, of course, not symmetrical. If two letters merge the evidence is lost, but if a letter splits, the splinters are left with us.

Isaac Fried, Boston University

On Oct 29, 2007, at 10:46 PM, K Randolph wrote:

Isaac:

On 10/29/07, Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu> wrote:
Karl,

I think I start to understand you now. You are wishing for a witness
or an attestor to "accurately indicate what Hebrew was like before
Hebrew was written down". What about circumstantial evidence, will
this not do?

Isaac Fried, Boston University

Or more accurately, a written record, yes.

Cognate languages already make up one sort of circumstantial evidence,
and it is one that I treat as secondary at best. As far as I
understand your position, you reject it. Without a written record, we
don't know if the cognate languages split, or did Hebrew combine? Many
modern scholars teach that Hebrew combined phonemes. As I understand
you, you teach that Hebrew split, and the other languages split more.

So the answer is, circumstantial evidence is not enough, therefore No,
it will not do.

Karl W. Randolph.
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