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'''Hebrew''' is a language spoken and written by the [[Jew]]s from the earliest times. It is probably the oldest surviving written [[language]].
'''Hebrew''' is a [[language]] spoken and written by the [[Jew]]s from the earliest times. It is probably the oldest surviving written language.


A few very basic facts:
A few very basic facts:


*Unlike [[English]] it is written right-to-left. So that the first word of the sentence is in the on the right hand margin of the page, not the left hand margin.
*Unlike [[English]] it is written right-to-left. So that the first word of the sentence is in the on the right hand margin of the page, not the left hand margin.
*All of the letters are consonants. There are 22 of them. Vowels are written as a series of dots, dashes, and other marks underneath, or (less commonly) above the letters. One of the consonants (v equivalent) changes its type to a vowel if a dot is written in (o) or above (oo) it.
*<div style="float:right; width:25%; border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff;padding:5px; margin: 5px;"><small>mmm ... translation issues. The comment here isn't entirely correct. Hebrew, like all other [[Semitic language]]s has specific grammar rules -- all words with the same basic consonant structure are derived from the same root word (verb or noun). So even without the vowels it should be much easier to translate Semitic languages than [[English]]. N nglsh mssng t th vwls s bg prblm. iN HeBReW iT iS LeSS oF a PRoBLeM.</small></div>All of the letters in the [[alphabet]] are consonants. There are 22 of them. Vowels are written as a series of dots, dashes, and other marks underneath, or (less commonly) above the letters. One of the consonants (v equivalent) changes its type to a vowel if a dot is written in (o) or above (oo) it. In older Hebrew texts, vowels may be unclear or ommitted completely leading to occasional debatable points in translations, especially when performed by those with less bilingual skill or less access to other texts from an era for comparison (such as would be the case more often in [[medieval]] times).
*Books in '''Hebrew''' are reversed, so that what [[English]] speakers would call the back of the book is the front of the book in '''Hebrew'''. Or, to look at it another way, a '''Hebrew''' book closed on the table in front of you has the opening on the left, rather than right, side.
*[[Book]]s in Hebrew are reversed, so that what English speakers would call the back of the book is the front of the book in Hebrew. Or, to look at it another way, a Hebrew book closed on the table in front of you has the opening on the left, rather than right, side.
*The earliest editions of the [[old testament]] of the [[Bible]] were written in '''Hebrew'''.
*The earliest editions of the [[Old Testament]] of the [[Bible]] were written in Hebrew.

[[Category:Language]]

Latest revision as of 16:09, 3 November 2004

Hebrew is a language spoken and written by the Jews from the earliest times. It is probably the oldest surviving written language.

A few very basic facts:

  • Unlike English it is written right-to-left. So that the first word of the sentence is in the on the right hand margin of the page, not the left hand margin.
  • mmm ... translation issues. The comment here isn't entirely correct. Hebrew, like all other Semitic languages has specific grammar rules -- all words with the same basic consonant structure are derived from the same root word (verb or noun). So even without the vowels it should be much easier to translate Semitic languages than English. N nglsh mssng t th vwls s bg prblm. iN HeBReW iT iS LeSS oF a PRoBLeM.
    All of the letters in the alphabet are consonants. There are 22 of them. Vowels are written as a series of dots, dashes, and other marks underneath, or (less commonly) above the letters. One of the consonants (v equivalent) changes its type to a vowel if a dot is written in (o) or above (oo) it. In older Hebrew texts, vowels may be unclear or ommitted completely leading to occasional debatable points in translations, especially when performed by those with less bilingual skill or less access to other texts from an era for comparison (such as would be the case more often in medieval times).
  • Books in Hebrew are reversed, so that what English speakers would call the back of the book is the front of the book in Hebrew. Or, to look at it another way, a Hebrew book closed on the table in front of you has the opening on the left, rather than right, side.
  • The earliest editions of the Old Testament of the Bible were written in Hebrew.