cheenc03a.pdf

GENERAL EXPLANATIONS
xvii
On the Assyrian alphabet see BABYLONIA, 5 6, and on the Egyptian, EGYPT, 5 12. One
point remains to be explained, after which it will suffice to set forth the schemes of transliteration
in tabular form. The Hebrew h (n) represents philologically the Arabic h and b, which are
absolutely distinct sounds. The Hebrew spoken lanpage very likely marked the distinction.
As the written language, however, ignores it; n is always transliterated h. The Assyrian guttural
transliteated with an h, on the other hand, oftenest represents the Arabic h, and is therefore
always transliterated (in Muss.-Am. Dicf., x, for x), never h. There is no h in transliterated
Assyrian; for the written language did not distinguish the Arabic h from the Arabic h, ', g, or ,
representing them all indifferently by', which accordingly does not, in transliterated Assyrian,
mean simply x but indifferently ti or 3 or h or D or i. Hence, e.g., Nabt-nabid is simply one
interpretation of NabO-na'id. Egyptian, lastly, requires not only h, h, and b, like Arabic, but also a
fourth symbol h_ (see EGYPT, 3 12, note).
TRANSLITERATION OF HEBREW (AND ARABIC) CONSONANTS
*n*n,c. HEsnEw. ARABIC.
; n n r
U ' & .
'sh,"s
& sh,;
Extra ~rabiconsonants: &, th, I ; A, dh, d; G, d: b, z.
VOWELS
'long' 'short' vety short almost a glide
Heb. BSi6ii aeiou aE60?*-0 ~ o r e w ,
AT. i i u a (el i ie) u (01
Ar. diphthongs: ai, ay, ei, ey, E ; arr, au, 6.
8. Signattnres. -Parts of articles as well as whole articles bear the signature of the author or
authors, the exact share contributed by each writer being indicated, where possible, at the end thus :
A. H. $5 1-5: C. D. $8 6-10. When the signature would be too complex, and in a majority of the
'minor articles' even otherwise, no attempt has been made to assign a definite authorship and
the articles rest on the editorial responsibility. When in such an article there occurs a suggestion
that seems to need a signature, its authois initials are appended to the whole article. A key to the
signatures will be found on p. xxvii.
H. W. H.