Is Modern Hebrew a Synthetic or Analytic Language? Suffixed and Independent Pronouns in the Writing of Haim Be'er

Abstract

This paper explores the nature of Modern Hebrew. As a Semitic language, Classical Hebrew was a synthetic language that typically added grammatical elements through suffixation of a single character. In contrast, Modern Hebrew appears to be moving in the direction of European languages and evolving into an analytic language, with a clear preference for independent grammatical constructions. This tendency is well recognized in spoken language and in the journalistic register, however it has yet to be proven with regard to literature. The research presented here attempts to do just that. The study examined three novels by Haim Be'er, one of Israel's foremost literary figures. His works reflect an interesting development in the linguistic trend discussed above. In his first book, Notsot (1979), the author's writing is characterized by substantial use of suffixed constructions. In his second book, 'Et Hazamir (1987), Be'er alternatively uses suffixed and independent constructions. In his most recent book, Xavalim (1998), the majority of constructions are independent. The explanation for this is that the norms of written Modern Hebrew have changed and that this change is expressed in the shift of literary language toward spoken and journalistic language, which are influenced by European languages and specifically by English.