Contents of this weekly column are (mostly) based on the sefer: EIM LAMIKRA HASHALEIM, by R' Nissan Sharoni, Ashdod, a guide to correct pronunciation of Hebrew, specifically in davening and Torah reading.

When a person is reading from a Chumash or Tanach, the TROP notes (TAAMEI HAMIKRA) help in the proper accenting of the word, because they are printed above or below (as the case may be) the accented syllable. Take a look at this week’s sedra, Ki Tisa. Second pasuk has the phrase KOFER NAFSHO. The DARGA (backward Z) under the KO syllable tells us that the word is pronounced KO-fer and not ko-FER (MIL’EIL, not MILRA). On NAFSHO, the T’VIR (curved line with dot) is undewr the SHO. The word is pronounced naf-SHO, MILRA.

Pasuk 16, v’la-kach-TA is the correct pronunci- ation. The word became MILRA because of the VAV that switches from past to future. The GERSHAYIM (double quote) is printed above the last syllable, so one is guided to the correct pronunciation.

Middle of pasuk 18, v’na-ta-TA, same deal. The MUNACH (backward L) is under the last syllable. Etc. Etc.

However... There are four TROP marks that are not placed over the accented syllable (necessarily), but rather have another “rule” of placement.

The ZARKA (squiggly or tilde), SEGOL (three dots, as in “therefore”), and the T’LISHA K’TANA (magnifying glass with handle pointing down-right) are placed over the end of the word, even if the accent is MIL’EIL.

And the T’LISHA G’DOLA (magnifying glass with the handle pointing down-left) is placed over the first letter of the word, even when the accent of the word is MILRA.

Which means that you cannot “trust” these four TROP marks to guide you to accenting the right syllable.

Not quite. Most printed Chumashim and Tanachs now put a second symbol above the accented syllable, when the TROP mark is not there already. Reread this paragraph.

Back to the beginning of the sedra. Second pasuk. ...yis-ra-EIL (pause because of the same letter ending one word and beginning the next) lif- ku-dei-HEM. The ZARKA & SEGOL appear only once, at the end of the word (which is where they always are) and that happens to be on the syllables to be accented as well. That’s why only one of each TROP mark appears.

On the other hand, in B’reishit (Vayeira) 19:4, the words TE-rem yish-KA-vu have two ZARKAs and two SEGOLs respectively, because the words are MIL’EIL but the TROP marks are officially put on the end of the word.

In the reading for Fast Days, first Aliya (this is from Ki Tisa, Sh’mot 32:11-12) we find LAMA (why) first with a MAHPACH under the second syllable indicating the word is MILRA, la-MA. The next LAMA has two T’LISHA K’TANAs. The second one is where T’LISHA K’TANAs go; the earlier one is added as a helper to the proper accenting, which is MIL’EIL - LA-ma.

(There’s actually a DIKDUK reason why the two WHYs are accented differently; when I have it straight, I’ll be glad to share it with readers of this column.

Remember: If you happen to find a Chumash, etc. that doesn’t have a second TROP note of these four, then you are on your own as far as which syllable to accent. You will have to rely on knowledge of the rules of DIKDUK, the exceptions to the rules, and the exceptions to the exceptions.
Also note, that in most of davening, we don’t have TROP marks to help with accent either. Some Siddurim include TROP for passages that come from the Torah, some or all of them. The most common, and perhaps the most important of this being the SH’MA.

There is still a bit more on this topic. Next week, perhaps.

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