🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <341B1A...@deathtospam.aracnet.com>,
Greg Hartman  <ghar...@deathtospam.aracnet.com> wrote:

[citing me]

>>regardless of what your religious position may be, there is no
>> doubt whatsoever that the Masoretic text which scribes *attempted* but
>> *failed* to precisely reproduce is based on an earlier text which had a
>> much more fluid system of spelling. Indeed, it is partially because of
>> the fluidity and ambiguity of Hebrew spelling that the Masoretic work
>> became necessary.
>
>Wrong, wrong, wrong! The Masoretes invented a form of vowel pointing to
>help standardize _pronunication_, NOT spelling. Ancient Hebrew had no
>vowels, so pronunciation WAs fluid, as you put it, but not the spelling.

Mr. Hartman, I am growing a little tired of your comments. I realize
that you probably think I'm being pompous, but the fact of the matter
is that I have actually studied the Masoretes, their documents and the
Hebrew manuscript history of Bible for over 25 years.  I have already
explained at least twice in the past week that ancient Hebrew
absolutely did have a method for indicating vowels. That they did is
covered in the first few chapters of virtually every major Hebrew
grammar. For example, in the standard classical grammar (Gesenius-
Kautzsch, 2nd English Edition, Oxford, 1910), you can find the relevant
material at paragraph 7b2. The following should be sufficient:  "The
partial expression of the vowels by certain consonants (aleph; yod;
waw; and heh), which sufficed during the lifetime of the language..."
These letters are sometimes used and sometimes not, even in the same
word and in the same verse, resulting in a highly fluid spelling which
any 4 year old in Israel can explain to you.

As for the Masoretes, while the Masoretes were certainly interested
in conveying their beliefs as to the appropriate pronunciation of
Classical Hebrew (beliefs which are problematic themselsves given the
fact that their are three *different* Masoretic systems which
conclusively demonstrate that there were at least that many distinct
pronunciation traditions), that they were extremely interested in
fixing the spelling of the text is demonstrated on virtually every page
of every manuscript.

The Internet is a wonderful medium whereby people who are interested in
a topic can discuss things and exchange ideas without any resort to
titles or qualifications. But that does not obviate the need for the
respondent to actually know something. I suggest you do a little more
homework before posting your remarks to the world.

-- 
-----------------------
Jack F. Love
Opinions expressed are mine alone, unless you happen to agree