Stress Shift and Trochaic Structures in the Nominal System of Modern Hebrew

Abstract

This study examines the stress patterns in the nominal system of Modern Hebrew. It is argued that stress in Modern Hebrew is trochaic, consisting of binary or degenerate feet. Two competing analyses of stress in Modern Hebrew nouns are provided. It is argued that a trochaic analysis is superior to a strong binary analysis (maintaining that feet in Hebrew are obligatory binary), and can accurately predict the adaptation of loanwords in the language.