Orthoepic Epenthesis in I-Sonorant–III-Yod Verbs in Tiberian Hebrew

Abstract The Sonority Sequencing Principle (SSP) operates across languages, with variation in the extent of adherence according to language and morphological category. In the case of Tiberian Hebrew, the structure of III-Y apocopated forms is conditioned by the SSP and is determined by the relative sonority of the two consonants at the syllable coda. Whether the syllable coda develops an epenthetic vowel or not can be accurately predicted by the SSP in all but six cases: וַיֶּרֶב ,וְתִרֶץ ,וַיִּרֶף ,תֶּרֶף ,יִרֶב and וַתֶּמֶס . We argue that these are exceptional forms that diverge from the SSP, and that this divergence reflects the Tiberian reading tradition’s overall tendency towards orthoepy. We then explain that the two exceptions to these exceptional cases ( יַרְדְּ ,וְיֵרְדְּ ) are vocalized thus for the purposes of semantic disambiguation. Parallels internal to the Tiberian reading tradition, as well as parallels from other reading traditions, are cited as evidence.