12.07.2015 Views

Modern Hebrew: An Essential Grammar

Modern Hebrew: An Essential Grammar

Modern Hebrew: An Essential Grammar

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Level TwoThis is still the practice of many dictionaries. But the adult public, andmany publishers and newspapers, went on spelling with full vowel lettersas they always had. There were thus two spelling systems in simultaneoususe.After the State was established, the <strong>Hebrew</strong> Language Academy inJerusalem tried to simplify things, but no one paid much attention. Finallyin 1970, its journal Leshonenu La’am published the Academy’s full officialrules for spelling native <strong>Hebrew</strong> words (without nikkud).These rules have some official force, and some newer dictionaries haveadopted them, but the public and press still cling to old habits.These rules are worth knowing, as a firm basis. They are rather complex,and are best explained by an experienced teacher. Here they are in anutshell:1 All ‘u’ sounds are to be written as , thus: , , ,2 The ‘cholam’ is to be written as , thus: , , , ,Exceptions: (construct), , , , , , , , , 3 Most ‘i’ sounds in an open syllable are to be written with , thus:,(+) , , ,( +) , , , , ,Do not use for ‘i’ in a closed syllable: ,( ) , , , ,4 When is ‘y’, it is best written as a single at the beginning of theword: , , and as a double elsewhere: , , .Exceptions:166Use a single next to another vowel letter (as in ) and in nounsof the pattern , .

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!