Ancient Hebrew Language and Alphabet
Ancient Hebrew Language and Alphabet
Ancient Hebrew Language and Alphabet
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Appendix A – <strong>Alphabet</strong> Reconstruction<br />
was !s / sin, meaning thorn, <strong>and</strong> later was divided into the<br />
samech <strong>and</strong> !f / sin (which then became associated with<br />
the !v / shin).<br />
Phonetic (sound): The original sound for this letter must<br />
be an "s" to which the samech <strong>and</strong> sin both agree. The<br />
Greek sound for the letter is "ks", similar to the "s".<br />
Ghan<br />
Pictographic (form): The <strong>Ancient</strong> picture is , an eye.<br />
Mnemonic (meaning): Watch, Pay attention, Heed -- as<br />
keeping a close eye on something; Cover -- as a shading<br />
of the eyes to remove the glare of the sun; Furrow --<br />
formed between the eyes from squinting; Affliction,<br />
Worry, Poor, Humble -- one with a furrow between the<br />
eyes; Occupation -- one paying attention to the task;<br />
Abode -- as a place carefully watched; Spring, Source --<br />
the eye of the l<strong>and</strong>scape; Ostrich, Owl -- a bird that<br />
watches<br />
Syllabic (name): The Modern <strong>Hebrew</strong> name for this<br />
letter is ayin. Arabic has two names for this letter, ayin<br />
<strong>and</strong> ghayin. The Greek name is "Omicron" (a definite<br />
name change by the Greeks).<br />
Phonetic (sound): This letter is silent in Modern <strong>Hebrew</strong>.<br />
Arabic has two forms, the ayin, which is silent, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
ghayin with a "gh" 45 sound. The Egyptian hieratic<br />
45 Pronounced as an "ng" as in "ring".<br />
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