Changes

The original Hebrew largely died out as a spoken language. Modern Hebrew is spoken in Israel and is a restoration of Ancient Hebrew with many differences to the older form.<ref>http://www.adath-shalom.ca/rabin_he.htm</ref>

The original Hebrew largely died out as a spoken language. Modern Hebrew is spoken in Israel and is a restoration of Ancient Hebrew with many differences to the older form.<ref>http://www.adath-shalom.ca/rabin_he.htm</ref>

The [[Old Testament]] is written almost entirely in [[Classical Hebrew]], with some portions in [[Aramaic]].

The [[Old Testament]] is written almost entirely in Classical Hebrew, with some portions (such as parts of the [[Book of Daniel]]) in [[Aramaic]].

== History ==

== History ==

'''Modern Hebrew''' is the Hebrew variant presently spoken in [[Israel]]. It is referred to as ''modern'' to distinguish it from its classical variant. The name of [[Eliezer Ben-Yehuda]] has an inextricable association with modern Hebrew. Without him, modern Hebrew might not today be spoken. Also, and more importantly, he more than any other man made Modern Hebrew what it is.

'''Modern Hebrew''' is the Hebrew variant presently spoken in [[Israel]]. It is referred to as ''modern'' to distinguish it from its classical variant. The name of [[Eliezer Ben-Yehuda]] has an inextricable association with modern Hebrew. Without him, modern Hebrew might not today be spoken. Also, and more importantly, he more than any other man made Modern Hebrew what it is.

Beginning in 1881, Ben-Yehuda, a Byelarussian émigré who anticipated (and perhaps provoked) the First Aliyah (1882-1904),<ref name=Naor>Naor M, "[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1019876.html Flesh-and-blood Prophet]," ''Haaretz'', 13 September 2008. Accessesd 24 September 2009.</ref> campaigned assiduously to adapt classical Hebrew for use in normal everyday conversation and to encourage Jews everywhere to speak it.

Beginning in 1881, Ben-Yehuda, a [[Belarus]]ian émigré who anticipated (and perhaps provoked) the First Aliyah (1882-1904),<ref name=Naor>Naor M, "[https://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1019876.html Flesh-and-blood Prophet]," ''Haaretz'', 13 September 2008. Accessesd 24 September 2009.</ref> campaigned assiduously to adapt classical Hebrew for use in normal everyday conversation and to encourage Jews everywhere to speak it.

Ben-Yehuda had two principal goals. One was to convince all Jews to speak Hebrew as a primary or "native" language, not as a secondary or liturgical language. Ben-Yehuda had been told that a common language was one of two necessary marks of distinction for a self-determining people. When others told him that the Jews had no common language, he declared, "We shall create one!"<ref name=Naor/> He did not actually mean to create an entirely new language, but rather to convince Jews to use a language that they already knew how to read, for a much wider purpose than that for which Jews used it at the time.

Ben-Yehuda had two principal goals. One was to convince all Jews to speak Hebrew as a primary or "native" language, not as a secondary or liturgical language. Ben-Yehuda had been told that a common language was one of two necessary marks of distinction for a self-determining people. When others told him that the Jews had no common language, he declared, "We shall create one!"<ref name=Naor/> He did not actually mean to create an entirely new language, but rather to convince Jews to use a language that they already knew how to read, for a much wider purpose than that for which Jews used it at the time.

==Hebrew Language Structure==

==Hebrew Language Structure==

Hebrew is a "root" language with basic meanings of words derived from the consonants. This is different from English and other Indo-European languages in which the vowels have equal weight as the consonants. Thus, in Hebrew, the consonants KTB(or V) have something to do with "writing". From this basic root, there is derived KoTeV=writing or author, KaTTav= reporter, KaTuV=written, K'TuVim= Scriptures, KaTaVti= I wrote, eK(kh)ToV=I will write, K'ToVet=inscription or address, and so on. This "root" aspect of Hebrew is common to all Semitic languages. Thus, in Arabic, KTB appears in KaTaBa= "he wrote", maKTuB= "letter", KaaTiB= author, KuTiBat=it (fem.) was written, etc. In Aramaic, KTB appears in KeTaV= "he wrote", KaTVat= "she wrote", KeTuBa= "marriage contract", KeTiVat= was written (feminine), KaaTiV= writing. (In Aramaic the definite article for "the" is A (Aleph) added at the end of a noun rather than at the front. Thus the Hebrew "HaMeLeKH"= the King, becomes in Aramaic MaLKA)

Hebrew is a "root" language with basic meanings of words derived from root words (words which cannot be broken down any further). Many roots are trilateral, meaning that they are composed of three consonants. Vowels, until the introduction of Niqqud, were not written.  

 

Thus, in Hebrew, the root KTB(or V) have something to do with "writing". From this basic root, there is derived KoTeV=writing or author, KaTTav= reporter, KaTuV=written, K'TuVim= Scriptures, KaTaVti= I wrote, eK(kh)ToV=I will write, K'ToVet=inscription or address, and so on. This "root" aspect of Hebrew is common to all Semitic languages. Thus, in Arabic, KTB appears in KaTaBa= "he wrote", maKTuB= "letter", KaaTiB= author, KuTiBat=it (fem.) was written, etc. In Aramaic, KTB appears in KeTaV= "he wrote", KaTVat= "she wrote", KeTuBa= "marriage contract", KeTiVat= was written (feminine), KaaTiV= writing. (In Aramaic the definite article for "the" is A (Aleph) added at the end of a noun rather than at the front. Thus the Hebrew "HaMeLeKH"= the King, becomes in Aramaic MaLKA)

 

===Noun, Adjective and Verb in singular===

===Noun, Adjective and Verb in singular===

1.

1.

Hebrew expresses the basic meaning of the word in consonants (capital letters in this article).

Hebrew writing expresses the basic meaning of the word in consonants (capital letters in this article).

Y,L,D are the 3 consonants for "child", "boy".

Y,L,D are the 3 consonants for "child", "boy".

YeLeD  is a boy. The feminine is formed usually by adding an "ah" sound (some of the inner vowels may change).

YeLeD  is a boy. The feminine is formed usually by adding an "ah" sound (some of the inner vowels may change).

1.

1.

The consonant B means "in" (It has only the slightest vowel sound).  It is [[clitic|attached]] to the next word.  

The consonant B means "in" (It has only the slightest vowel sound).  It is [[clitic|attached]] to the next word.  

Hebrew has no way of saying the word "a". You just leave it out.

Hebrew has no indefinite articles such as "a", a noun is indefinite simply by leaving the definite article out.

''Example:'' House is BaYiT. The big girl is in a house, HaYaLDah HaGeDoLah BBaYiT.

''Example:'' House is BaYiT. The big girl is in a house, HaYaLDah HaGeDoLah BBaYiT.

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[[Category:Semitic Languages]]

[[Category:Semitic Languages]]

[[Category:Judaism]]

[[Category:Judaism]]

[[Category:Israel]]

[[Category:Israel]]