Towards better Davening and Torah Learning
Let's have another look at the Hebrew word LAMA (why?), LAMED-MEM-HEI.

Not an uncommon word in Tanach, it also appears occasionally in davening, which makes it a good study for this column. It is unusual among words in that it is accented the two different ways - MIL'EIL and MILRA. Usually, the MEM has a DAGESH CHAZAK in it and the word is accented on the first syllable (which is the next-to-last one), MIL'EIL. LAmma. When it is followed by a word that begins with a letter that does not ever (almost) get a DAGESH - ALEF, HEI, CHET, AYIN, REISH, then the DAGESH drops out of the MEM and the accent shifts to the last syllable. la-MA. MILRA.

There are exceptions to the rule, but it mostly holds. In the Torah reading for fast days (from Ki Tisa), we find both accentings in close proximity (consecutive p'sukim). la-MA (no DAGESH in the MEM) HaShem... (in Sh'mot 32:11). Remember that G-d's name behaves like a word that begins with an ALEF, based on our pronunciation of the Name, rather than like a word that begins with a YUD, which is the way it is written. 32:12 begins with LAmma yo-m'RU mitz-RA-yim and the MEM has a DAGESH. LAMA is not the only word that behaves this way.