Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Why assume the Masoretes recorded spoken Hebrew?
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 10:17:55 +0200
> >The religious texts are pronounced were
> >clearly, with schwas and dageshes. Would you agree that pronouncing them
in
> >speech is uncomfortable? They come up much more natural in chanting.
>
> I am not sure what you mean by 'uncomfortable'? I don't see what is the
problem.
>
Vocal schwas are sufficiently uncomfortable to remain only in formal speech.
Dagesh hazak is also almost lost.
> I think you are confusing the spelling (including vowels) and the
> pronunciation.
>
The Masoretes recorded synchronic pronunciation. They did not put vowels
based on some invented grammar rules.
Vadim Cherny
Re: [b-hebrew] Why assume the Masoretes recorded spoken Hebrew?
, (continued)