Yemenite Hebrew language

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The Yemenite Hebrew language or Temani Hebrew language is a descendant of Biblical Hebrew traditionally used by Yemenite Jews. It is believed by some scholars that its phonology was heavily influenced by Yemeni-spoken Arabic. Yet, according to other scholars as well as Yemenite Jewish Rabbis such as Rabbi Yosef Qafah the Temani Hebrew dialect was not influenced by Yemenite Arabic, as this type of Arabic was also spoken by Yemenite Jews and is distinct from the liturgical Hebrew and the conversational Hebrew of the communities.

Pronunciation Chart 1 [1]
Pronunciation Chart 2 [2]

Among the dialects of Hebrew preserved into modern times, Yemenite Hebrew is traditionally regarded as the form closest to Hebrew as used in ancient times, particularly Tiberian Hebrew and Mishnaic Hebrew. This is evidenced in part by the fact that Yemenite Hebrew preserves a separate sound for every consonant except for ס sāmekh and ש śîn, which are both pronounced /s/. (Morag)

The late Israeli pop singer Ofra Haza sang some of her songs in Yemenite Hebrew.

[edit] See also

Jew
Yemenite Jews
Sanaani Hebrew language
Rabbi Evin Sapir's Account of Yemenite Hebrew[3]
Hebrew Expressions used by Temanim in conversation[4]

[edit] External links

BIBLICAL HEBREW - Sana'ani Yemenite Pronunciation of Hebrew
TORAT MOSHA - Information on Yemenite Jews

[edit] References

Sáenz-Badillos, Angel (1996). A History of the Hebrew Language, trans. John Elwolde, Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-55634-1.
S. Morag, 'Pronunciations of Hebrew', Encyclopaedia Judaica XIII, 1120-1145.