Tiberian Hebrew Phonology
Joseph L. Malone
This impressive study analyzes the form of biblical Hebrew that was canonized by the Masoretes, Jewish religious and language scholars who were centered in Tiberias in the late first millennium C.E. The grammatical system of the Masoretes is the key to understanding the Hebrew Bible, and yet because of its tremendous complexity, the system has often been neglected. This study of Tiberian Hebrew phonology is a valuable contribution toward a fuller understanding of Masoretic grammar. The sound system of biblical Hebrew is quite distinct from that of modern Hebrew and is the most elaborate of all the attested Semitic languages. Dr. Malone’s thorough analysis describes this sound system in light of both recent linguistic study (generative phonology) and his own far-ranging work on other Semitic languages. The results of his work are stated in the form of phonological rules that will assist the biblical Hebrew scholar in understanding phonology and its impact on Hebrew grammar. The reader will find much value in the elaborate charts and diagrams throughout the book, especially chapter 10, which illustrates the derivations of the first twenty verses of the Book of Genesis, and chapter 12, which presents an inventory of Tiberian Hebrew words and phrases of particular interest. A glossary and bibliography complete the book.
- Description
- Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Introduction
Introduction to the Draft of 1988
Introduction to the Draft of 1984
Introduction to the Draft of 1978
Origins of this Study
Character of this Study
Ghost Chapters
Breadth of this Study
Inadequacies of this Study
Chapter 2. General Baedeker to the Book; Abbreviations and Symbols
General Baedeker to the Study
Acronymic Abbreviations
Terms for Vocalic Height Alternations
Special Symbols
Alphabetic
Analphabetic
Chapter 3. Underlying System
Introduction
The Verb System
Overview of Verb Stem Structure
Unmarked Qal Stems
Marked Qal Stems, Strong
Marked Qal Stems, 1n
Marked Qal Stems, 1y
Marked Qal Stems, 1?
Marked Qal Stems, 3y
Marked Qal Stems, 2H
Marked Qal Stems, 2W
Marked Qal Stems, Other
Hifil Stems
Hofal Stems
Piel Stems
Pual Stems
Hitpael Stems
Nifal Stems
Inflectional Affixes
Imperfective-imperative Subject Prefixes
Imperfective-imperative Subject Suffixes
Perfective Subject Suffixes
Object-possessive Suffixes
Gender-number Suffixes
Chapter 4. Features
Segmental Features
Durational Features
Accentual Features
Boundary Features
Syntactic Features
Chapter 5. Parameters of Application
Introduction
Level (Morphological, Phonological)
Frequency (Transient, Persistent)
Order
Between Rules
Within Rules
Domain
Instrumentation
Orientation
Conditions
Obligatory
Uneven
Grammatical
Major, Minor
General
Syntactic Factors
Chapter 6. Redundancy Conditions
Introduction
Linking
Constraint on Redundancy Condition Construction
Some Redundancy Conditions of Tiberian Hebrew
Chapter 7. Morphological Rules
Introduction
Organization of Rule Entries
1. Base Truncation
2. Bridge Building
3. Clitic Gemination
4. Glide Deletion
5. Imperative-Infinitive Apheresis
6. Infinitive Bobbing
7. Initial Schematic Specification
8. Performative Simplification
9. Radical Movement: General Radical Movement
10. Radical Movement: Hofal Radical Movement
11. Radical Neutralization
12. Radical Specification
13. Reflexive Fusion
14. Stress Placement: Major Stress Placement
15. Stress Placement: Minor Stress Placement
16. Suffix Whittling
17. T-Affixation (TA)
18. Terminal Schematic Neutralization (TSN)
19. Terminal Schematic Specification (TSS)
Ordering Summary
Chapter 8. Persistent Phonological Rules
Organization of Rule Entries
1. Aleph Coalescence
2. Atonic Opening
3. Duration Adjustment
4. Midding Assimilation
5. Proclitic Formation
6. Spirantization
Ordering Summary
Chapter 9. Transient Phonological Rules
Organization of Rule Entries
1. Assimilatory Lowering
2. Atonic Midding
3. Backward Lengthening
4. Checked Lowering
5. Checked Midding
6. Conjunctive Shift
7. Diphthong Coalescence
8. Distant Lowering
9. Final Shortening
10. Forward Lengthening
11. General Raising
12. Glide Labialization
13. Group Simplification
14. Imperative Raising
15. Labial Assimilation
16. Labial Coalescence
17. Low Shortening
18. Lowering Umlaut
19. Medial Shortening
20. Midding Umlaut
21. Nucleus Lifting
22. Opening Umlaut
23. Penultimate Polarization
24. Presemivowel Epenthesis
25. Pretonic Lengthening
26. Major (Vocalic) Pretonic Lengthening
27. Minor (Consonantal) Pretonic Lengthening
28. Reduction (Vowel Reduction)
29. Schwa Coloring
30. Major Schwa Coloring
31. Minor Schwa Coloring
32. Schwa Haplology
33. Schwa Intrusion
34. Secondary Stressing
35. Segolate Epenthesis
36. Stress Adjustment
37. Tonic Change
38. Major (Lengthening) Tonic Change
39. Minor (Lowering) Tonic Change
40. Ultimate Attraction
41. Ultimate Jump
42. Ultimate Polarization
43. Vowel Closing
Ordering Summary
Chapter 10. Illustrative Derivations
Introduction
Dagger Notes to Chapter 10
Derivations
Chapter 11. Special Topics
Appendix A: General Phonology and the Metrical Behavior of u- ‘and’ in the Hebrew Poetry of Medieval Spain
Appendix B: Messrs McCarthy and Prince, and the Problem of Hebrew Vowel Color
Chapter 12. Inventory of Forms
Introduction
Transliteration
Transcription
Verb Categories
Grammatical Phenomena
Inventory
Glossary
Bibliography
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