3. Syllabification and Pronunciation

Question 1

What is the first rule of syllabification?

Answer 1

Every syllable must begin with one consonant and have only one vowel

Question 2

What is the second rule of syllabification?

Answer 2

There are only two types of syllables: open and closed

Question 3

What is an open syllable?

Answer 3

A syllable that ends with a vowel

Question 4

What is a closed syllable​?

Answer 4

A syllable that ends with a consonant

Question 5

Where are Hebrew words usually accented?

Answer 5

Hebrew words are usually accented on the last syllable

Question 6

What indicates that a word is not stressed on the last syllable?

Answer 6

The use of an accent mark over the stressed syllable

Question 7

How are syllables classified in Hebrew?

Answer 7

Syllables are classified by their proximity to the accent

Question 8

What is the name for the accented syllable?

Answer 8

The Tonic syllable

(or tone syllable)

Question 9

What is the name for the syllable before the accented syllable?

Answer 9

The Pretonic syllable

Question 10

What is the name for the syllable before the pretonic syllable?

Answer 10

The Propretonic syllable

Question 11

What is the name for the last syllable of a word (regardless of accent)?

Answer 11

The ultima

Question 12

What is the name for the next-to-last syllable of a word (regardless of accent)?

Answer 12

The penultima

Question 13

What is the name for the syllable before the penultima?

Answer 13

The antepenultima

Question 14

What does the Daghesh Forte do to a consonant?

Answer 14

It doubles the value of a consonant

Question 15

What is the first rule for identifying whether a begadkephat is a **Daghesh Forte **or Lene?

Answer 15

1. The Dahesh in a begadkephat is a Forte if preceded by a vowel

Question 16

What is the second rule for identifying whether a begadkephat is a Daghesh Forte or Lene?

Answer 16

2. The Dahesh in a begadkephat is a Lene if preceded by a consonant

Question 17

What is the third rule for identifying whether a begadkephat is a Daghesh Forte or Lene?

Answer 17

3. A begadkephat letter at the beginning of a word takes a Daghesh Lene unless the previous word ends in a vowel

Question 18

When will a Vocal Shewa always occur?

Answer 18

The Vocal Shewa will always occur in an open syllable

Question 19

When is a Shewa Silent?

Answer 19

The Shewa is silent if the previous vowel is short

(In most other circumstances it is vocal)

Question 20

Where there are two contiguous Shewas, which is silent?

Answer 20

The first of two contiguous Shewas within a word is silent

(The second is Vocal, except when it is at the end of a word)

Question 21

When is a Shewa vocal?

Answer 21

The Shewa is vocal if not immediately preceded by a short vowel

Question 22

Will an Initial Shewa (first vowel of a word) be vocal or silent?

Answer 22

Initial Shewa is always vocal

Question 23

Is a Shewa under a consonant with Daghesh Forte vocal or silent?

Answer 23

A Shewa under any consonant with Daghesh Forte is vocal

Question 24

What kind of Shewa can a guttural take?

Answer 24

A guttural can only take a Silent Shewa

Question 25

When does the Qamets Hatuf occur?

Answer 25

The Qamets Hatuf occurs only in a closed and unaccented syllable

Question 26

Which word occurs most frequently with a Qamets Hatuf?

Answer 26

• kol*
• all of, each of, every*

Question 27

When does Qamets occur?

Answer 27

Qamets prefers an *open, pretonic *syllable or a closed, unaccented syllable

Question 28

What symbol is used to distinguish between Qamets and Qamets Hatuf?

Answer 28

The Metheg

A small vertical line to the left of a Qamets

Question 29

What does a Metheg signify?

Answer 29

The presence of a Qamets, and not a Qamets Hatuf

Question 30

What is a Furtive Pathach?

Answer 30

When a word ends in Het or Ayin a Pathach may appear beneath this consonant and must be pronounced before the guttural (e.g. rûah)

Question 31

What is a Quiescent Alef?

Answer 31

When Alef occurs without a vowel, it is quiescent – it is not considered a consonant within the rules of syllabification

Question 32

What is the most common Hebrew diphthong?

Answer 32

ayi