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  • From: George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>
  • To: B-Hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [b-hebrew] Geminates
  • Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 09:15:36 +1000

Let's take the 'theories and standards' thread on a meaningful tangent. Karl
wrote:

"...I noticed
that several of the triliteral roots were in practice biliteral (two
letters) which were made into triliteral roots by the addition of a medial
waw or a doubling of the second letter. There are also a few quadraliteral
roots."

The geminate roots are actually not three consonants, but rather one normal
consonant and a doubled second consonant. They often look like purely
biconsonantal because Hebrew does not permit doubling (through the use of
dagesh forte) of the first or final consonant of a word. However, if you look
at the cognate forms in Arabic, which does permit doubling, you'll notice the
phenomenon.



Regards,

GEORGE ATHAS
Moore Theological College (Sydney, Australia)
www.moore.edu.au




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