Ch. 3: Syllabification and Pronunciation Flashcards
What is the first rule of syllabification?
Every syllable must begin with one consonant and have only one vowel
What is the second rule of syllabification?
There are only two types of syllables: open and closed
How are syllables classified in Hebrew?
Syllables are classified by their proximity to the accent
What is the first rule for identifying whether a begadkephat is a Daghesh Forte or Lene? (the main rule for determining if a Forte)
- The Dahesh in a begadkephat is a Forte if preceded by a vowel
(for example the ה of אַתָּה is a Forte because it is preceded by a vowel under א)
What is the second rule for identifying whether a begadkephat is a Daghesh Forte or Lene? (how to identify if it is a Lene)
- The Dahesh in a begadkephat is a Lene if preceded by a consonant
What is the third rule for identifying whether a begadkephat is a Daghesh Forte or Lene? (Determining if a Daghesh is in the first consonant of a word)
- A begadkephat letter at the beginning of a word takes a Daghesh Lene unless the previous word ends in a vowel
What is the main rule for determining if a Shewa is silent or vocal?
A Shewa is silent if the previous vowel is short. In most other circumstances, it is vocal.
When is a Shewa Silent?
- if the previous vowel is short
- if it is the first of two contiguous Shewas
- if it is at the end of a word (for example, כָּתַבְתְּ both Shewas are silent, since the second comes at the end of the word)
* (In most other circumstances it is vocal)*
What is the main rule for determining when a Shewa is vocal?
The Shewa is vocal if it is not immediately preceded by a short vowel
What are two other applications for determining if the Shewa is vocal?
- if it is after any unaccented long vowel
- the second of two contiguous Shewas
What kind of Shewa can a guttural take?
A guttural can only take a Silent Shewa (but ר can take a Vocal Shewa)
When does the Qamets Hatuf occur?
The Qamets Hatuf occurs only in a closed and unaccented syllable (חָכְ/מַה) (The first Qamets is a Hatuf because it is closed and unaccented; the second is a Qamats because it is accented and closed)
When does Qamets occur?
Qamets prefers an open, pretonic syllable or a closed, accented syllable (Ex: דָּבָר; Both are Qamets: the first is an open, pretonic syllable; the second is closed, accented)
What is a Furtive Pathach?
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)
How does the Furitive Pathach effect syllabification?
It is not considered a full vowel, nor is it counted in syllabification (it goes along with the previous consonant/vowel combo; for example רַ/קִיעַ)
What is a Quiescent Alef?
When Alef occurs without a vowel, it is quiescent – it is not considered a consonant within the rules of syllabification (for example: חַטְ/טָאת)
What sometimes happens for the quiesced Aleph
Lengthen the preceding short vowel
What syllables do short vowels prefer?
- closed, unaccented (עֶ֫בֶד [בֶד])
or
- open, accented (עֶ֫בֶד [עֶ֫])
What syllables do long vowels prefer?
(changeable or unchangeable)
- closed, accented (דָּבָר [בָר])
- open, pretonic (דָּבָר [ָדָּ])
What syllables do vocal Shewa and reduced vowels prefer?
- open, propretonic (דְּבָרִים [דְּ)
Reduced vowels will appear in what position with what consonant?
The reduced vowels appear with guttural consonants in the open, propretonic position (אֱ/לֹ/הִים)
What kind of syllable do the reduced vowels only appear in?
Only in open syllables (they are never silent)
What are three important considerations for gutturals (two of which have already been addressed in previous cards)?
- The gutturals (including ר) cannot take Daghesh Forte.
- The gutturals (excluding ר) cannot take Vocal Shewa but prefer Hateph (reduced) vowels.
- The gutturals prefer to appear with a-class vowels.
Gutturals prefer what vowel before them?
Pathach
When a BGDKPFT letter follows a vowel what can it not have?
A Lene (I am not sure if this way of wording it will be helpful in the future)
Is a syllable at the end of a word that ends with a He vowel letter open or closed?
It is open, because the vowel letter does not count as a consonant
