Triliteral

In Languages Semitic , such as the Arabic and Hebrew , the root is a unit lexical minimal composed solely of consonants. It is most often three-consonant ^{In Arabic}

For example, in Arabic the root KTB () "write" can form words by intercalation of vowels and addition of affixes :

• derivatives Proceedings :
  • k a t a b a (): "write";
  • i kt-a-ta-b (): "copy"
• derivatives nominal :
  • k i t a b (): "book";
  • at t i k b (): "writer";
  • I was a ^b-kt-h (): "library";
  • Mid-kt b (): "typewriter";
• forms inflected :
  • ya-u b u kt (), "he writes";
  • k u t u b (): "(the) books."

Consolidation in Hebrew

The ancient grammarians Jews have adopted a special nomenclature to describe the three-consonant roots. They took out basis, conventionally, the verb (pa'al), which means "do", "manufacture". The first letter of a verb is ( pe ), the second one ( ayin ), and the third one ( lamed ). These three letters are used to "appoint" those of other verbs.

Under this agreement, the first letter of any three-consonant root is denoted by the letter "PE". Then it shows the actual first letter of the root. For example, a root whose first letter is an aleph is called a "pe-aleph." A root whose first letter is a noun is called a "pe-nun." And so on.

Following the same principle, the second letter of a three-consonant root is called "ayin". For example, a root whose second letter is a samech therefore called an "ayin-samech.

The third letter of a three-consonant root is called "lamed". For example, a root whose third letter is a bet so called a "lamed-bet."

The verb (kataba, which means "write") consists of three letters kaf , tav and bet. Therefore a "pe-kaf ', a' ayin-tav" and a "lamed-bet." The verb (Amada, which means "stand") consists of three letters ayin , mem and Dalet. Therefore a "pe-ayin", a "ayin-mem" and a "lamed-Dalet."

This consolidation aims to simplify the description of different types of three-consonant verbs. Indeed, the Hebrew language does not, strictly speaking, different types of conjugation: the combination is the same for all verbs (with rare exceptions like the verb "be") but it differs from any consonant mutations. There are thus a number of special verbs: those with "pe" throat out "ayin" or guttural "lamed" throat, the "pe-noun," the "ayin-ayin", the "pe-yud" the "waw-ayin", the "lamed-aleph," the "lamed-hey" ...

Notes

See also

• Abjad
• Morphology of Hebrew
• Judah ben David Hayyuj
• Eliezer Ben Yehudah

• Portal Language
• Portal of the Arab world
• Portal of Jewish culture and Judaism