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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] Vav Nun Suffix

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  • From: Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu>
  • To: Pere Porta <pporta7 AT gmail.com>
  • Cc: Hebrew List <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Vav Nun Suffix
  • Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:49:08 -0500

I think it is of paramount importance to understand how the Hebrew language construct its words out of roots and identifiers. It is, in my opinion, of the greatest importance in the study of biblical Hebrew to understand what the constituent parts of a Hebrew word mean.
People who share my point of view tell me that as a result of this analysis their understanding of the Hebrew bible deepened considerably. I did not ask them "how", but I know what they mean.

Isaac Fried, Boston University

On Nov 17, 2010, at 2:25 PM, Pere Porta wrote:

So, Isaac, in "shemesh" שֶׁמֶשׁ (sun).... where do we have the personal pronoun?

Let me put a rather personal question, please: is yours a "mathematical" mind?

What is your purpose at so often insisting on this structure of the Hebrew language? What is your aim, your goal?

Let us suppose you're right in your viewing of the Hebrew structure: then, Isaac, ..... in which respect, in which sense does this viewing of yours help us in our deeping of the Hebrew text of the Bible so that we are able to better understand it?

I think a clear answer is important for this list.

Pere Porta
(Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain)

2010/11/17 Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu>
As I see it the essence of Hebrew grammar is expressed in this one single sentence:

A Hebrew word (sans prepositions) consists of a root + personal pronouns.

Inside the root, the (universal) personal pronouns (or identity markers) are the sounds I and U (also E and O) for ( היא ) and for ( הוא ), irrespective of gender and number. For instance, XALUL = XAL-(הוא)-L, is 'he or it having the property of the root XLL', whereas XALIYL = AXL-(היא)-L is 'it which has the property of the root XLL. The pronouns הוא, היא are used alternatively for versatility.

A consonant pronoun can not be inserted between the radical letters so as not to spoil the root, but it may be attached fore or aft. The attached consonantal personal pronouns need not be conforming to the separate ones. For instance: TALMIYD = ATAH-LM-IY-D, 'student', NIYDBAK = NIY-DBAK 'a row of stones in a wall' (essentially a NIYDBAQ or a NIYDPAQ, 'a glued row of stones').

Isaac Fried, Boston University


On Nov 17, 2010, at 7:13 AM, Arnaud Fournet wrote:


From: "Isaac Fried" <if AT math.bu.edu>


The endings AN, ON, UN, are, in my humble opinion, ( לעניות דעתי ) personal pronouns, as in ANIY ( אני, אנו ), referring to the thing described. To wit: XAL-ON, 'a thing that is XALUL, or KALUL in a wall', AD-ON, 'he who is AD, or AZ', AT-ON, 'she who is AT or AD or AZ' like the goddess Athena. In spoken Hebrew we have PARDES- AN, 'he who tends orchards'.
Isaac Fried
***

How do you explain: Xalul + aniY => Xal-on ?

Arnaud Fournet

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Pere Porta






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