OTCL505: Hebrew Language Tools
Week 3 – Learning the Hebrew Vowels
- Consonantal foundation of the Masoretic text has been the authoritative text since the
second century AD whereas the vocalization is still often debated today.
- First stage of vocalization was the additional of consonantal letters called “matres
lectionis” which means mother of readings. The letters ו ,י, and ה were added to words
to indicate long final vowels.
- Two types of spellings: full and defective
oFull refers to the words that have one or more matres lectionis added.
oDefective refers to the words that do not have the matres lectionis even when
they are appropriate.
- Vowels are categorized as long or short.
oLong vowel are those that can never be shortened. They are also called
“unchangeably” long.
oShort vowels can be changed.
- Vowels are also classified into “A class”, “E class” and “O class”. These are based upon
the sound qualities of the vowel.
- Patach ( - ) is pronounced like the “a” in path. Positioned under the consonant.
- Qamets (") is pronounced like the “a” in car. Positioned under the consonant.
- Hireq (.) is pronounced like the “I” in hit. This is a single dot under the consonant.
- Tsere (..) is pronounced like the “e” in they. This is two dots under the consonant.
- Seghol is a upside-down pyramid of dots and pronounced like the “e” it set.
- Qibbut is a downward diagonal line of dots and pronounced like the “u” in pull.
- Holem (.) is a long “o” sound similar to the word hole. This is written above and to the
left of the consonant.
- Qamets Hatuf (“) is pronounced like the “o” in hole.
Vowel Letters
- Two types of Sheva: vocal and silent. They are a simple vowel symbol (:) and pronounced
with a hurried sound.
oVocal is always pronounced like the one that combines with the simple vowels to
make reduced vowels
oSilent is a syllable indicator inside a word and is never pronounced
- The Dagesh
oThe dot is called a Dagesh Lene and only found in the BaGaD KePhaT letters and
changes how the words are pronounced.
- Dagesh Forte is a dot that occurs in consonants with the purpose of indicated a doubling
of the consonant for syllabification purposes.
oRules:
If the constant is not a BaGaD KePhaT letter, then the dot is a Dagesh
Forte.
If the consonant is a BaGaD KePhaT letter, the dot can either be Dagesh
Lene or Forte. Three options determine which one:
If the beginning of a word, it is a Dagesh Lene
If immediately following a silent Sheva, it is a Dagesh Lene
If immediately following a vowel, it is a Dagesh Forte
- The Gutturals
oRules
Gutturals prefer “a class” vowels, particularly the Pathach.
Gutturals take Hateph Shevas instead of the vocal Sheva. Most often will
be the Hateph Pathach.
Gutturals reject the Dagesh Forte, and cannot be doubled.
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