Phonological principles

Phonological principles [∞]

No one knows how to pronounce Hebrew words. Hebrew was a dead language. Communities of dispersed Jews adopted local languages into their vocabulary and speech patterns. When it was re-invented, there were debates between Ashkenazi and Shepardic Jews how to pronounce things. There was not, and still is not a standard transliteration. Most say there are 22 letters in the alphabet, some say 23. There are really 28.

They say there are no vowels. That is patent nonsense. A vowel is breath. A consonant interrupts breath. Every consonant has a plosive vowel following the consonant. If you wish to have breath before a consonant, you must add one of five vowels before it: אהויע. 'Beh' only requires a bet ב. 'Ab' requires a vowel in front of the bet: אב. Extended breath after a consonant is accomplished with a vowel added after. 'bah' בא.

Why do seminary Hebrew text books spend so much of the student's time learning a 'proper' way to say things, when there is no proper way. The ר is either 'rosh' or 'resh'. They are both correct. The ו is either 'oo' or 'v'. They are both correct depending on the community you are in. If you say it either way, everyone understands.

Furthermore, the niqqud, the phonetic markings, are rarely used outside of theological text books. You can read a newspaper without them. They are only there to confuse those wishing to know God's word.

We will spend no time on things Jesus never saw in the scriptures he used.