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From: bruck@actcom.co.il (Uri Bruck)
Subject: Re: Question About the Letter X
Organization: ACTCOM - Internet Services in Israel
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 1995 08:01:48 GMT
Message-ID: <DAEuB0.EFo@actcom.co.il>
References: <199506150214.TAA04350@bud.indirect.com> <DA8JAH.CM7@actcom.co.il> <acaw1-1606951310200001@mac110.nmus.pwf.cam.ac.uk> <rharmsen.634.00178442@knoware.nl>
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Ruud Harmsen (rharmsen@knoware.nl) wrote:
: In article <acaw1-1606951310200001@mac110.nmus.pwf.cam.ac.uk> acaw1@phx.cam.ac.uk (Andrew Woode) writes:
: >> It is the sound represented by the Hebrew HET, or the Spanish G/J
: >> Dutch G etc.
: Strictly, Dutch has _two_ such sounds, one voiced and one voiceless. That is, 
: most speakers (not all) distinguish them. I have a detailed description of 
: Dutch sounds available for anyone interested.
Thanks for the clarification.
I only used this example for the benefit of people who have no knowledge
at all of Semitic languages and might need something to compare to.

: >The (Modern Hebrew) het (Phonetic [x] did not exist in either Latin or Greek. 
: >(The ancient Hebrew Het was a voiceless pharyngeal fricative- some Hebrew
: >speakers are alleged still to pronounce it as such).  
: To clarify that, that is the sound still heard in Arabic, in word like Hamas, 
: or Muhammad.
Also in Hebrew as spoken by Jews who come from Arabic speaking countries.
Uri Bruck

