APPENDIX III. ACCENTUATION. It has been observed, §. 12, that the accents not only mark the Tone syllable, but likewise exhibit in the most delicate and accurate manner, the logical relation of words one to another, and to the whole sentence. In this respect then, not now to speak of their use as musical notes, or to mark the rhythm, they are of the greatest importance. To explain the principles of consecution fully would require a volume. But enough may be said here to awaken the attention and prepare the mind of the student for a more complete consideration of the subject. The accents are divided into Disjunctives and Conjunctives. The first separate, the second join the word, to which they are attached, to that which follows, as, e. g., the noun and its genitive, the nominative and the verb, and others similarly related. In prose the three principal disjunctive accents are— Silluk terminates the verse, and separates it from that which follows, and is found in every verse. Athnach is introduced to divide the verse, if the sense require it; if, on account of the length, a third great division be required, Segolta; in poetry, Merca Mahpachatum is used for the purpose; thus JOSH. XV. 20. : opheyp? nganya nay nbņa nši "This is the inheritance of the children of Judah according to their families," is only one proposition, and therefore requires no division, and so "And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh : and he did not let the people go." as plainly contain two propositions; the division is accordingly marked. Again in the following verses there is the threefold division The use of Zakeph Katon in subdividing the members, so in Prov. i. 22, the use of Merca Mahpachatum is still more apparent. The method of sub-division is very plainly exhibited in many of the verses of Deut. xxxii. The use of the subordinate dividers is as regular as that of the greater. The Conjunctive accents cannot be used indiscriminately, but belong to certain distinctives. Thus In Prose. 1. Merca serves Silluk, Tiphcha, Zarka, Pashta, Tvir, and Munach with Psik. 2. Munach serves Athnach, Segolta, Zakeph Katon, Rvia, Zarka, Pazer, Tlisha G., Double Geresh, and Munach, when by position it has distinctive power. 3. Mahpach serves Pashta. 4. Darga serves Tvir and Munach. 5. Kadma serves Geresh, and the least sub-distinctives. 6. Tlisha ktannah serves Kadma, when by position it has distinctive power. 7. Yerach serves Karne Pharah. Some Distinctives admit neither Conjunctive nor Sub-distinctive, as, 1. Sakeph Gadol; 2. Yethiv; 3. Shalsheleth. In Metrical Accentuation. 1. Merca serves Silluk, Merca Mahpachatum, Athnach, Rvia with Geresh, Simple Rvia. 2. Munach inferior serves Silluk, Athnach, Zarka, Tiphcha an terior. 3. Munach superior serves Silluk and Rvia. 4. Mahpach and Mahpach Zarkatum serve Rvia, Pazer, and Psik with Kadma or Mahpach. 5. Yerach serves Merca Mahpachatum and Pazer. 6. Tiphcha non anterior is united to Munach inferior, and more rarely serves Shalsheleth, or Psik with Kadma. An idea of the consecution may be formed from the following tables given by Ouscel.* |