On Wed, 5 Feb 2003 19:02:28 -0600 Danny Wier <dawier@...> writes:
> Kþav "Steg Belsky" <draqonfayir@...>
-
Heh, i just noticed that now :-)
> | On Wed, 5 Feb 2003 06:56:21 -0600 Danny Wier <dawier@...>
> writes:
> The means by which 3x2 vowels in common Semitic became 5x2+1 in
> Hebrew is one of
> those linguistic issues I've always been fascinated about, and I'm
> trying to make sense of it right now. Also the whole shwa issue.
> Anyway, I always thought the ultrashort e/a/å are just...
> ultra-short short e/a/å. Is there a change in quality and not just
quantity?
-
As far as i know it's just quantity.
Hopefully i'll remember to get my copy of Rendsburg's article next time
i'm home and then i can put up some summary of his description of the
system here on the list.
> | According to an analysis of Biblical Hebrew phonology i read by
> Gary
> | Rendsburg, (if i understood it and remember it correctly) all the
> huge
> | number of Hebrew vowels are pretty much just allophonic variations
> of the
> | basic 6 Semitic vowels /a i u a: i: u:/.
> And the basic Semitic diphthongs /ai/ and /au/. Hebrew is not alone
> as realizing
> them as /e:/ and /o:/; Maghribi Arabic is one of the clearest
> examples. And Maltese too I believe.
-
In my Unnamed Semitic Conlang, i'm planning on having:
/a:/ > /a/
/i:/ > /i/
/u:/ > /u/
/a/ > /@/
/i/ > /e/
/u/ > /o/
I don't remember thinking about /ai/ and /aw/, though.
-Stephen (Steg)
"aru."