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<p>R Akiva Miller was asking about how to count syllables with a shva na, and also about the chataf vowels.<br /> <br /> My (very limited) understanding, or perception, is that:<br /> (a) it's sort of "half" (or some smaller fraction) of a syllable; and<br /> (b) the sound is equivalent to a chataf vowel (as well as the fact that it's a partial syllable)<br /> <br /> (As for "b", I once asked RSM: if the sound of a shva na and a chataf is the same, why did ben Asher use a chataf instead of a shva na, or vice versa in particular places: I *think* RSM responded that in some cases it was to remind us to vocalize it, but in other cases, we don't really know why he chose one over the other.)<br /> <br /> (And, another tangent, someone earlier was asking about the difference between a shuruk and a kubbutz and stated something to the effect that there must be a difference, otherwise why would there be two ways to write the vowel. RSM asserted (orally, to me) that, aderaba, the sound is exactly the same. And then I asked the same question: why did ben Asher choose one over the other in various places. RSM (again, to the best of my recollection) said something like: he preferred a shuruk when possible, but we don't really know exactly why. RSM, if you're reading this, please correct me -- these are recollections from 10 years ago!)<br /> <br /> Keitzad half of a syllable? Think of the last pasuk in Tehillim: "kol han*shama" . . . is han'shama 3 syllables? Or 4? Or 3-1/3? (I dunno . . . )<br /> <br /> -- Sholom<br /> <br /><br /></p>
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