Hebrew Rules!

1. Syllable formation (GKC § 26, esp. f-l for exceptions)
1. All Hebrew syllables have at least a consonant and an vowel and all Hebrew syllables have to begin with a consonant (or a consonantal vowel, initial ו י).
2. Syllables consisting of only a consonant and a vowel are open syllables and normally take a long vowel.
3. Syllables consisting of a consonant, a vowel,and a consonant are closed syllables and normally take a short vowel.
2. Shewa - a simple shewa is vocal unless it follows a short vowel
1. Vocal
1. When it begins a word or a syllable דְּבַר
2. When it comes after a long vowel דּוֹבְרִים
2. Silent
1. When it comes after a short vowel מִדְבָּר
   (short vowels normally come in closed syllables and so the shewa would be under the consonant that closes the syllable)
3. When two shewas come in the middle of a word, the first is silent, the second is vocal יִקְטְלוּ
4. A shewa under a letter with a dagesh forte is vocal יְקַטְּלוּ
   (this is a modification of # 3 as the word would be יְקַטְטְלוּ without the dagesh)
   
3. Dagesh - a dagesh in any letter preceded by a vowel is forte
1. Dagesh Lene is only found in בגדכפת letters
2. בגדכפת letters with a dagesh following a vowel is forte and lene (GKC 13.3[d])
3. A dagesh in a בגדכפת letter not preceded by a vowel is lene
4. Guttural letters do not take a dagesh, but when one would occur, the vowel preceding the guttural letter is lengthened.
   
4. Qames/Qames Hatuf
1. Qames (long vowel)
1. Occurs in open syllables - first syllable in this case דָּבָר
2. This includes a qames found with a metheg as the metheg makes the syllable open הָאָֽרֶץ
3. Occurs in closed accented syllable - second syllable in this case דָּבָר
2. Qames hatuf (short vowel) - is found in closed, unaccented syllable הָכְמָה