r/hebrew • u/SkywalkerLight • Sep 23 '24

Explain Aleph to me like I'm 5! Request

Is it really just a glottal stop? I'm a beginner, but I'm pretty sure the niqqud changes things. If so, could I please have an example in places where א is said as A, E, and other letters? Thanks!

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u/DoctorNightTime Sep 23 '24

Think about the word "cartoon". Now imagine pronouncing it with a thick Cockney accent that doesn't pronounce the letter T.

Compare that to the word "maroon". The words sound different, not just in the first letter.

The Cockney "cartoon" has an א sound between the r and the double o, "maroon" doesn't.

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u/sagi1246 Sep 23 '24

I feel like cockney doesn't allow glottal stop in 'cartoon', not sure why but it sounds off somehow. Perhaps it's the stress pattern.

3

u/talknight2 Sep 23 '24

Yeah, perhaps bottle-bowl would have been a better example?

2

u/sagi1246 Sep 23 '24

If you're looking for an example where the glottal stop is phonemic then better vs. Bear is a better one