Phonetic Variance of /d/ and /r/ in Hebrew in Late Antiquity. (20th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Howard, Jonathan
• Is Part Of: Journal of Semitic studies. Volume 67:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: 395
• Page End: 415
• Publication Date: 2022-07-20
• Subjects: Semitic philology -- Periodicals; Jews -- Periodicals; 299.2
• DOI: 10.1093/jss/fgac011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4480

Abstract

Abstract: A common type of textual variant in Hebrew is the alternation of ד and ר. Such variance has traditionally been attributed to scribes and confined to the written layer of transmission. However, given the articulatory proximity of / d / and / r /, orally-induced variance should also be considered. I present several instances in Hebrew and Aramaic, where the context suggests that the two letters were confused in speech. This in turn sheds light on two other matters: first, it offers a new point of view for examining the question of the two allophones of / r / reported in the Tiberian Masoretic tradition, seemingly in support of Aron Dotan's view on the matter; second, it removes one of the difficulties raised against Yaacov Sussman's theory about the orality of the Mishna in the Amoraic period, by reducing a scribal variant (צוערי/סועדי) to a phonetic one.