middle east

I have been a student of Biblical Hebrew for over 3 years. But I've also investigated modern pronunciation. Interestingly, one will not find any consistency (I've found about half a dozen modern variations, both for consonants and for vowels, a total of about 12 pronunciation systems). A living language by definition means constant change and dialects existing side by side.

Adam Lance has put for that there are some transliterations problems with this text. That is possible; I mean, one cannot hardly find a published book today that wasn't rushed to the market so fast that it appears that some proofreading, or at least careful proofreading, was forgotten.

Modern Hebrew has two main pronunciation systems: Ashkenazi and Sephardi. Israel basically uses Sephardi, but which one?! That's right, there is significant variation. One reference states that, not including dipthongs, there are 5 vowel sounds, another says 6, and another 7, and even another 10. Then there are the consonants. Some say Cheyt and Kaf are pronounced the same, some say different. Some say Ayin is pronounced, others say it's silent like Aleph. Why all this variance?

I write this to justify the seeming descrepancies in this book. The Sephardi tradition is essentially Middle Eastern and North African. This system breaks down in variations among those born and raised in Israel vs. immigrants. There is Russian, Yemenite, Romanian, and Ethiopian dialects.

The older native population in Israel generally pronounce Cheyt and Kaf differently. And they pronounce Ayin. Also, they use at least 6 vowel sounds, pronouncing Tsere as ey. But their children do not pronounce Ayin, and sound Cheyt and Kaf the same. Also, they only use 5 vowel sounds.

There is one evidence of the transition. While many pronounce Tsere the same as Seghol (as in "bet"), when the tsere syllable is closed by Aleph or He, it is pronounced as a long 'a' (as in "they"). This may be what has occurred in this book, like another book I have. Seghol may also be pronounced 'ey' if the syllable is closed by He.

So it is likely that this book is correct for the dialect it represents. There is much flux at this time. It appears, though, that the 5-vowel system is winning out, Ayin is becoming unpronounced, and no distinction is being made between Cheyt and Kaf.

The bottom line is that once one has used a particular book like this, if they intend to progress, they will have to immerse into the language and culture. Living in America, the student will then likely swing to Ashkenazi pronunciation (which is spoken here conversationally), meaning that when they go to Israel, they will have difficulties. As with learning any language, adjustment is constant, even for the native speaker

If you want to learn Modern Hebrew, this text is fine. But, as with ANY book, be prepared to grow with the language, the local dialect, etc.

I bought this book to help a friend learn Hebrew. This is a nice book, but the English transliterations are flawed, and that's what I had the most trouble with.

First of all, the book tells you that the tsere is prounounced "ay", when actually, in the modern spoken Hebrew of Israel, it is pronounced like eh in red. Plus it goes on to transliterate the tsere inconsistantly (sometimes as "eh", sometimes as ay).

Shva is the same way. When it's not silent, it's transliterated as 'e'...but sometimes as "ay". (Shva is never pronounced "ay".)

Gives a basic understanding of conversational Hebrew. You'll be able to ask directions and more. If you are looking for a better understanding of Hebrew, look for something else like "Contemporary Hebrew by M. Mansoor".