From: "JAMES CHRISTIAN READ" <JCR128 AT student.anglia.ac.uk>
To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [b-hebrew] Using an unpointed text
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2007 23:48:16 +0100
YS: But see, the argument here is to read the text without
the guidance of tradition (Massora).
JCR: I don't recall anyone ever saying we should abandon
the data we can retrieve for the massoretic text. This
text gives us a wealth of information about what were
considered to be variant pronunciations of the same
consonantal sequences.
The only claim I recall being made is that the habit of
reading unpointed text gives a reader a better
preparation for spotting and being able to resolve
potential ambiguities to a closer level of ease of that
of a native hebrew reader and therefore be better
prepared for reading rich archeological finds like the
DSS. Is there any reason you have for disagreeing with
such a claim? Or would you rather persist in debating a
straw man argument with yourself?