Page:Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar (1910 Kautzsch-Cowley edition).djvu/284



1. Vowel changes in the noun may be caused (a) by dependence on a following genitive, (b) by connexion with pronominal suffixes, (c) by the plural and dual terminations, whether in the form of the absolute state or of the construct (before a following genitive of a noun or suffix).

2. In all these cases, the tone of the noun is moved forward either one or two syllables, while the tone of the may even be thrown upon the following word. In this way the following changes may arise:—

(a) When the tone is moved forward only one place, as is the case when the plural and dual endings, and  are affixed, as well as with all monosyllabic or paroxytone suffixes, then in dissyllabic nouns the originally short vowel of the first syllable (which was lengthened as being in an open syllable before the tone) becomes , since it no longer stands before the tone. On the other hand, the originally short, but tone-lengthened vowel, of the second syllable is retained as being now the pretonic vowel; e.g. (ground-form dăbăr), plur. ; with a light suffix beginning with a vowel,, ; plur. ,, &c.; , dual. With an unchangeable vowel in the second syllable:, plur. ; with the suffix of the sing. ,, &c.; with the suff. of the plur. ,, &c. With an unchangeable vowel in the first syllable:, plur. , with suff., &c.

But in participles of the form, with tone-lengthened ē (originally ĭ) in the second syllable, the ē regularly becomes before a tone-bearing affix, e.g. , plur. , with suff., &c. Likewise in words of the form, , &c. (with ē in the second syllable;, l, p; and k), e.g. , plur. .

(b) When the tone of the, plural or dual, is carried over to the following word, or, in consequence of the addition of the grave suffixes to the ''constr. st.'' plur. or dual, is moved forward two places within the word itself, in such cases the originally short vowel of the second syllable becomes, while the vowel of the first syllable reverts to its original shortness, e.g. , , (in all which instances the ĭ of the first syllable is attenuated from an original ă).