Helpful Hints – Kelley – Lessons 3 and 4
Read through the assignment. Do not, however, read paragraph 12 "Syllables"....until we
have covered these chapters in class. Some people find Mr. Kelley's explanations of syllables
very confusing. After you've read paragraphs 4 ("Maqqef") through 11 ("Mappiq"), if you have
any questions, take a look at the following:
Remember the characteristics of BGDKPT letters? Sometimes they have dagesh; sometimes,
they don't. When they begin a word, they have it. When they end a word they (usually) don't
have it. And when they fall in the middle of the word, there are rules about that situation. Well,
here are the rules!!
The first thing to know is that there are two types of dageshes:
1) a dagesh lene (DAH-gesh LEY-ney)—a BGDKPT dagesh that you already know about,
2) a dagesh forte (DAH-gesh FOR-tey)—a dagesh that represents a doubled letter.
The real reason why it's important to know about this dagesh forte doesn’t really lie in
pronunciation….a doubled letter sounds very similar (if not exactly like) a single letter. The
reason why dagesh forte is important has to do with syllables. Take, for example, the word
"litter".
The word has a doubled "t" in the middle. You don't really pronounce both "t"s when you
say the word; there's just one "t" sound. But the effect of the doubled "t" is that this word has
two closed syllables: "lit" and "ter". And, in this example, notice that the "i" has a short-like
sound (actually like a hireq in Hebrew).
Now, let's take one of the "t"s out: liter (as in a "liter of Coke"). This word now has an open
syllable ("li-") and a closed syllable ("ter"). Notice what happens to the "i" sound in the open
syllable! The syllable is no longer closed and so the sound of the vowel changes! The vowel is
the same ("i"), but the sound is different.
THE DOUBLING OF THE "T" IN "LITTER" AFFECTS THE SOUND OF THE VOWEL
THAT PRECEDES IT ("I") BECAUSE IT CAUSES THE "I" TO STAND IN A CLOSED
SYLLABLE. In an open syllable, the vowel "i" sounds long (like a hireq-yod); in a closed
syllable the vowel "i" sounds short (like a hireq).
This little fact is why dagesh forte is important. It won't affect how you pronounce the word
(since the Masoretes have pointed the word to tell you how to pronounce the vowel). But it will
explain why vowel signs have this (seemingly) infuriating quality of changing. The "VOWELS"
don't change (Remember there are only three vowels: A, I, and U). But the VOWEL SOUND
will change depending on whether the vowel is in an open or closed syllable. And one of the
ways that closed syllables are formed is by using dagesh forte.
So here's some principles about these facts in Hebrew:
Rules of Dagesh Lene and Dagesh Forte (cf. Kelly, pp. 12-13)
1. A dot in any letter other than a BGDKPT letter is a dagesh forte and indicates the
doubling of that letter. This means that the letter both closes one syllable and opens
another.
2. A dot in a BGDKPT letter that is preceded by a fulle vowel (i.e., a short vowel or a
long vowel) is a dagesh forte and indicates the doubling of that letter. This means that
the letter both closes one syllable and opens another.
Corrolary to Rule 2:
2b. A dot in a BGDKPT letter that is not preceded by a short vowel or a long vowel is a
dagesh lene and indicates that the BGDKPT letter begins the syllable.
Examples:
~yIm;V'h; The dagesh in the v is a dagesh forte, since v is not a BGDKPT letter.
This means that the first syllable of the word (vh;) is closed, and the second is v'
tx;T;mi The dagesh in the t is a dagesh forte, since the BGDKPT letter is preceded by a
short vowel. This means that the first syllable of the word (tmi) is closed and the second is t;.
ar'B' The dagesh in the b is a dagesh lene, since the BGDKPT letter is not preceded by a
short or long vowel. This indicates that b begins a new syllable. <duh>
lDeb.Y:w:
d is a dagesh lene, since the BGDKPT letter is not
preceded by a short or long vowel (but, rather, by a sheva). This means that d begins a new
syllable (and, therefore, that the sheva under the b is a silent sheva, a syllable divider.)
The dagesh in the
The other way that syllables are formed in Hebrew (besides doubling letters) is by using a
"syllable divider". Unfortunately this "syllable divider" looks exactly like a sheva. It is,
however, pretty easy to tell them apart in most cases. Here are three simple principles:
Rules of Vocal Sheva and Silent Sheva (Syllable Divider) (cf. Kelly, pp. 8-9, 13)
In order of importance:
1. If a sheva stands underneath a consonant with a dagesh (lene or forte), the sheva is
vocal.
2. If a sheva stands underneath a consonant that should have a dagesh but does not have
it, the sheva is vocal. [Do not pay attention to this rule right now. It applies mostly to
certain verbal forms.]
3. If the vowel immediately preceding the sheva is a short vowel, the sheva is silent and
serves to indicate a closed syllable.
Corrolary to Rule 3:
3b. If anything else besides a short vowel immediately precedes the sheva (a long vowel,
another sheva, or nothing at all--if it is under the first consonant of the word), the
sheva is vocal.
Examples:
tyviareB. (vocal; under a "dageshed" letter and, also, nothing precedes it.)
ar'q.YIw: <a verb> (silent; preceded by a short vowel)
ht'y>h' <a verb; both qametses are long “A” class vowels, not short “O” class vowels>
(vocal; preceded by a long vowel)
taew> (vocal; nothing precedes it.)
hwEq.mil.W (the first one under the l is vocal—preceded by a long vowel; the second
one under the q is silent—preceded by a short vowel.)
Notice this chart. We will talk about it in class….
In dealing with NOUNS (and often with verbs), the following pattern will govern the length
of full vowels (long and short vowel signs). It does not work with composite shevas or normal
shevas. (Remember that in most cases, Hebrew words are accented on the last syllable.)
Unaccented Accented
Open
Long
Short
Closed
Short
(Often)
Long
Examples:
ba'
tAxa'
laer'f.yI
tyIB;*
rb'D'
Exercises on Page 22
Do not do the exercises for Lesson 3 on pages 14 and 15. Spend the time, instead, learning
the vocabulary words on page 15.
Likewise, do not do exercises #1 and 2 on page 21. In one Kelley has you copying Hebrew
words out of the Hebrew Bible...which isn't a very good use of your time, and in the other he
talks about syllables in an unusual way.
As you do exercise #3 on page 22, I would include in his instructions: "Tell what kind of
syllable each is (open or closed) and what kind of vowel each has (long, short, or sheva—
composite or vocal)." Also, pronounce the words in exercises #3 and 4. I will ask you to do so
aloud on Wednesday.
You may do #5 if you choose....but certainly do #6: Pronounce the first verse of the Book of
Genesis.