Saturday, October 21, 2017

grammar dikduk - Is the rule of "Nasog Achor" specific to the Bible?


In Torah reading, there is a rule of "Nasog Achor". The rule is as follows:


Usually, Hebrew words get the accent (and trope note) on the last syllable. However, if the word following it has its accent on the first syllable then the accent on the previous word moves backwards one syllable.


Example from Shmot 20:20:


From Mechon Mamre's Mikra Im Ta'amim page:




לֹ֥א תַֽעֲשׂ֖וּן אִתִּ֑י אֱלֹ֤הֵי כֶ֨סֶף֙ וֵֽאלֹהֵ֣י זָהָ֔ב לֹ֥א תַֽעֲשׂ֖וּ לָכֶֽם׃



In brief, The 1st אלהי is pronounced "e LO hei" because the next word KHE- sef is accented on the 1st syllable. The 2nd אלהי is pronounced "e lo HEI" because the next word za HAV has its accent on the 2nd syllable.


My question - Is this a rule that emanates from the nature of the Hebrew language dikduk itself, such that Normal Hebrew conversation would require using this rule, or is it only because the rule applies to trope (i.e. - since the trope note is on a certain syllable, that one is accented) and the rule is used only when reading verses in Tana"ch? Would Nasig achor be used during prayers as well?




No comments:

Post a Comment

periodic trends - Comparing radii in lithium, beryllium, magnesium, aluminium and sodium ions

Apparently the of last four, $\ce{Mg^2+}$ is closest in radius to $\ce{Li+}$. Is this true, and if so, why would a whole larger shell ($\ce{...