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Q&A How were ת & ט pronounced historically?

In Sephardi or Israeli Hebrew today, ט and ת are pronounced the same, at least to my non-native ear, something like /t/. In Ashkenazi Hebrew, on the other hand, sometimes ת is pronounced like ס (...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by Monica Cellio‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by msh210‭

#4: Post edited by user avatar msh210‭ · 2020-08-16T18:05:53Z (over 4 years ago)
In Sephardi or Israeli Hebrew today, ט and ת are pronounced the same, at least to my non-native ear, something like /t/.  In Ashkenazi Hebrew, on the other hand, sometimes  ת is pronounced like <span style='font-family:serif'>ס</span> (*samech*), /s/.  Was there a pre-modern time when they were pronounced differently?  If so, how?

I'm wondering whether there was a different original pronunciation of ת, one that was different from ט and from <span style='font-family:serif'>ס</span>, that none of these groups preserved, or if it was always a variation (multiple pronunciations were used historically), or if it is a more recent regional variation.

This question is one aspect of a broader "how did Sephardi and Ashkenazi variations develop?" question, but I thought that would be too broad.  If I'm wrong about that, I'm happy to accept a broader answer and adjust the question to suit.

I'm aware that some people also pronounce ת like the soft "th" in English, /θ/.  I have the impression that's newer but might be wrong.
#3: Post edited by user avatar msh210‭ · 2020-08-16T17:48:14Z (over 4 years ago)
  • In Sephardi or Israeli Hebrew today, ט and ת are pronounced the same, at least to my non-native ear. In Ashkenazi Hebrew, on the other hand, sometimes ת is pronounced like ס (*samech*). Was there a pre-modern time when they were pronounced differently? If so, how?
  • I'm wondering whether there was a different original pronunciation of ת, one that was different from ט, that none of these groups preserved, or if it was always a variation (multiple pronunciations were used historically), or if it is a more recent regional variation.
  • This question is one aspect of a broader "how did Sephardi and Ashkenazi variations develop?" question, but I thought that would be too broad. If I'm wrong about that, I'm happy to accept a broader answer and adjust the question to suit.
  • I'm aware that some people also pronounce ת like the soft "th" in English. I have the impression that's newer but might be wrong.
  • In Sephardi or Israeli Hebrew today, ט and ת are pronounced the same, at least to my non-native ear, something like /t/. In Ashkenazi Hebrew, on the other hand, sometimes ת is pronounced like <span style='font-family:serif'>ס</span> (*samech*), /s/. Was there a pre-modern time when they were pronounced differently? If so, how?
  • I'm wondering whether there was a different original pronunciation of ת, one that was different from ט and from <span style='font-family:serif'>ס</span>, that none of these groups preserved, or if it was always a variation (multiple pronunciations were used historically), or if it is a more recent regional variation.
  • This question is one aspect of a broader "how did Sephardi and Ashkenazi variations develop?" question, but I thought that would be too broad. If I'm wrong about that, I'm happy to accept a broader answer and adjust the question to suit.
  • I'm aware that some people also pronounce ת like the soft "th" in English, /θ/. I have the impression that's newer but might be wrong.
#2: Post edited by user avatar Monica Cellio‭ · 2020-08-16T17:42:16Z (over 4 years ago)
  • In Sephardi or Israeli Hebrew today, ט and ת are pronounced the same, at least to my non-native ear. In Ashkenazi Hebrew, on the other hand, sometimes ת is pronounced like ס. Was there a pre-modern time when they were pronounced differently? If so, how?
  • I'm wondering whether there was a third pronunciation of ת, one that was different from ט, that none of these groups preserved, or if it was always a variation (multiple pronunciations were used historically), or if it is a more recent regional variation.
  • This question is one aspect of a broader "how did Sephardi and Ashkenazi variations develop?" question, but I thought that would be too broad. If I'm wrong about that, I'm happy to accept a broader answer and adjust the question to suit.
  • In Sephardi or Israeli Hebrew today, ט and ת are pronounced the same, at least to my non-native ear. In Ashkenazi Hebrew, on the other hand, sometimes ת is pronounced like ס (*samech*). Was there a pre-modern time when they were pronounced differently? If so, how?
  • I'm wondering whether there was a different original pronunciation of ת, one that was different from ט, that none of these groups preserved, or if it was always a variation (multiple pronunciations were used historically), or if it is a more recent regional variation.
  • This question is one aspect of a broader "how did Sephardi and Ashkenazi variations develop?" question, but I thought that would be too broad. If I'm wrong about that, I'm happy to accept a broader answer and adjust the question to suit.
  • I'm aware that some people also pronounce ת like the soft "th" in English. I have the impression that's newer but might be wrong.
#1: Initial revision by user avatar Monica Cellio‭ · 2020-08-16T17:21:00Z (over 4 years ago)
How were ת & ט pronounced historically?
In Sephardi or Israeli Hebrew today, ט and ת are pronounced the same, at least to my non-native ear.  In Ashkenazi Hebrew, on the other hand, sometimes  ת is pronounced like ס.  Was there a pre-modern time when they were pronounced differently?  If so, how?

I'm wondering whether there was a third pronunciation of ת, one that was different from ט, that none of these groups preserved, or if it was always a variation (multiple pronunciations were used historically), or if it is a more recent regional variation.

This question is one aspect of a broader "how did Sephardi and Ashkenazi variations develop?" question, but I thought that would be too broad.  If I'm wrong about that, I'm happy to accept a broader answer and adjust the question to suit.