Qamets Katan vs. Qamets Gadol (שָׁרְצ֨וּ)

[Bielikov]

It turns out that the Qamets in שָׁרְצ֨וּ is a Quamets Katan rather than a Qamets Gadol. How could I have know that?

 

 

[Robert Holmstedt]

In principle it relates to word stress and syllable structure. But in some forms, it also requires a bit of knowledge about the underlying form or historical development of the form/word.

 

Thus, for the 3cp perfect, the use of the qamets gadol in the first syllable (which is unstressed and *looks* closed) requires that we recognize (or better, posit) that that first syllable *used to be* open and the shewa represents a reduced vowel that at one time was also the stressed syllable: /qata'lu:/. The short /a/ quality vowel of the qatal perfect verb then lengthened in the prestress syllable (like the pattern of nouns/adjectives, to which the perfect verb once related). The originally stress of the form later shifted to the final syllable and the /a/ of the original middle syllable reduced in prestress syllables, according to the pattern of verbs (e.g., /yiqtol/ > /yiqtlu/), to which the perfect verb later related. This is essentially the story for the 3fs perfect, /qatla:/ as well.

 

Now, to this specific form: the qamets is a qamets gadol, not a qamets qatan.

[TYA]

In principle it relates to word stress and syllable structure. But in some forms, it also requires a bit of knowledge about the underlying form or historical development of the form/word. 

 

Just curious: with all this being said, would you (Hebrew teachers) call it "incorrect" or a "mistake" to pronounce this word with the "o" sound instead of "a"?  I ask your opinion because I've heard people reading Bible in Israel (native Israeli's) vary their pronunciation--some making "o" and some "a" with regards to qatan and chataf.  (Note: not with specific regards to this word in question; but just in general).

Edited April 28, 2019 by TYA

[Robert Holmstedt]

That is actually a much more complicated question.

It is fairly easy for us to determine which historical vowel (i.e., a short /a/ or a short /u/) underlies a given qamets based on the word pattern, syllable structure, and comparative Semitics.

 

But the pronunciation traditions vary. Those of who use a reconstructed vocalization (that essentially matches Modern Hebrew) would say that the qamets qadol should be pronounced as a an "ah" sound, whereas the qamets qatan should be pronounced as "oh"). However, those who teach the actual Tiberian system (which is reflected to various degrees in a number of traditional Jewish pronunciations) would pronounce every qamets as a rounded /a/, halfway between "ah" and "oh" (a bit like "oy" without much of the y sound). And yet, I learned recently that there is a tradition of this in which, say, the first qamets in the 3fs perfect כתבה "she wrote" would be the rounded /a/, but the qamets-heh at the end would be "ah".

 

So, the answer is really that you need to pick your tradition and learn to apply it consistently.

[markusvonkaenel]

Just curious: with all this being said, would you (Hebrew teachers) call it "incorrect" or a "mistake" to pronounce this word with the "o" sound instead of "a"?  I ask your opinion because I've heard people reading Bible in Israel (native Israeli's) vary their pronunciation--some making "o" and some "a" with regards to qatan and chataf.  (Note: not with specific regards to this word in question; but just in general).

 

 

just an idea: visit us in Israel and hear it yourself in our Hebrew speaking kehlia 

[Bielikov]

Hello Robert, I was not able to answer sooner, because I was traveling. I have found two authorities that consider שרצו to have a Qamets Qatan and one a Qamets Gadol. I think this proves my point that this is not so simple. I would love to be corrected if I am wrong. The authorities are one from Logos, one from Accordance and one from an Israeli reading the Torah, respectively. Very best wishes from Chile. 

[Robert Holmstedt]

It is simply as I said. Always consult established reference grammars, in print.