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b-hebrew - [b-hebrew] Re: GAGA Hebrew ?! (was Perception . . .)

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  • From: Ratson Naharadama <yahoo-arch AT heplist.com>
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [b-hebrew] Re: GAGA Hebrew ?! (was Perception . . .)
  • Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:16:26 -0700

Let's try applying your idea of the perception of the Hebrew writers to the perception of English writers. How would you explain the perception of English writers and the written inventory of 5 basic symbols for the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)? Are you saying English speakers only really perceived 5 different vowels? Maybe we can even extend that to the consonants? English speakers generally only use 21 consonants? Could we then say English speakers really only perceived 21 consonants? If we throw in the digraphs (such as th, sh, ch, gh), what then? And, would you say each of those only have one perceived phonemic value?

Just as a side note, when I was a child, long before I knew anything about consonant only alphabets, I would occasionally write notes to myself dropping all the vowels (this was something I had come to on my own, it wasn't taught to me, it just seemed quicker to write it that way). While it is not to difficult to read a English sentence written this way, it is easier to do so with semitic languages. If you can't seem to understand how the semitic root system plays such a large role in making writing without vowels so much easier (as others have previous tried pointing out) then I would not know where to begin to explain that to you (it should be almost self-explanatory to you if you understand any semitic language).

Ratson Naharadama
Denver, CO




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