Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Noam Eitan <noameitan AT yahoo.com>]

> Everybody in Israel (not physical Galut) is writing g'mar> in their 
> personal > emails, as is Arutz 7.  I am sure they are not> pronouncing it 
> in their minds > as gEmar.> 
> Shoshanna


They are pronouncing it in their minds in stereo as either gEmar or g'mar, 
gEmar being a fancy, "formal" form, like you were taught in school and know 
how you "should" pronounce it but are too lazy to, g'mar being the more 
relaxed, natural form. My late aunt always pronounced all the moving schwas 
and I was always impressed. I don't think any young Israelis will be caught 
alive pronouncing a moving schwa; it's so uncool. Even when you don't bother 
with your moving schwas you know instinctively which ones are resting and 
which ones are moving (or even floating) - proof, I suppose, that it ain't no 
artificial concept.

Check this:

http://www.pulib.sk/skase/Volumes/JTL04/01.pdf

Noam Eitan,

Brooklyn, NY