Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Barry" <nebarry AT verizon.net>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "K Randolph" <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>
To: "B-Hebrew" <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2010 7:34 PM
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Ruth


> As for “first year lies” (a phrase I to which I was introduced on this 
> list,
> I don’t remember who taught it to me), I was taught that Hebrew followed
> certain grammar, syntax and spelling rules, and all the examples in the 
> text
> books followed those rules. Later, when I started reading Tanakh for 
> myself,
> cover to cover, I was in for a shock—those rules were often violated. I 
> had
> to learn a new set of rules to fit the data before my eyes.
>
> My criticism in this particular example (not by any means for anything 
> with
> which I disagree) was that you seem to insist that Hebrew follow those 
> rules
> as taught in first year class, rather than how the language is actually 
> used
> in Tanakh.

Beginning grammars always present an ideal version of the languages for 
didactic purposes, usually using particular authors.  For beginning Latin 
it's Caesar and Cicero with a dash of Vergil for flavor.  For beginning 
(Classical) Greek it's usually Xenephon and Plato.  What beginning grammars 
can't communicate is the licence that individual authors use with the 
languages.  But this freedom is usually stylistic, lexical selection, 
idiomatic phrases.  You never see violation of basic grammar, such as 
subject verb agreement, and forth.

So, what are the models for the ideal grammer of biblical hebrews.

N.E. Barry Hofstetter
Classics and Bible Instructor, TAA
http://www.theamericanacademy.net
(2010 Savatori Excellence in Education Winner)
Mentor, TNARS
http://www.tnars.net

http://my.opera.com/barryhofstetter/blog
http://mysite.verizon.net/nebarry