ניקוד and הברה

The student will be able to:

  • explain the system of ניקוד used in תנ”ך.
  • explain variations of ניקוד found in many areas of grammar and parts of speech.

Note to Teachers: This standard is for advanced students. Understanding ניקוד together with the other language skills already mastered, gives students the skills needed to understand רש”י when he deals with דקדוק and to better understand other מפרשים which focus on דקדוק.

Enduring Understandings
1. How we pronounce the words in the תורה was taught to us by משה רבינו and includes טעמי המקרא and  נקודות.
2. The rules of ניקוד and הברה of לשון קודש and how they interact with the טעמי המקרא are evident today in our printed versions of תנ”ך.
Essential Questions
1. Why should we learn these rules? / How will these rules help me?
2. Where do we see examples of this ניקוד rule in the תנ”ך?

Key Knowledge:

  1. The common term נקודות actually incorporates a number of different items that all include dots.
  2. נקודות that actually create distinct sounds are called תנועות. They allow one to move across the word.
  3. תנועות are divided into two groups: תנועות גדולות and [38]תנועות קטנות.
  4. A syllable is called a הברה. You can only have one תנועה in any syllable.
  5. שואים are made of dots but they are not תנועות.
  6. There are two types of שואים, the נע שוא and the שוא נח, and they have distinct rules related to their purpose, placement and pronunciation[39].
  7. Other ‘dots’ include דגשים, and the מפיק ה’.
  8. There are two types of דגשים, the דגש קל and דגש חזק, and they have distinct rules related to their purpose, placement and pronunciation.

Note to teachers: The key knowledge above is elaborated upon in the Appendices. There are many important details there that need to be mastered. Please refer to those supporting documents.

[38] See Language Supplements for the differences between them.

[39] See Supplements

3.10 Understanding ניקוד

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A. Differentiates between the different types of  תנועות  and can explain their purpose and distinct rules.

B. Differentiates between the different types of שואים and can explain their purpose and distinct rules.

C. Differentiates between the different types of דגשים and can explain their purpose and distinct rules.

D. Uses the rules of תנועות,שואים and דגשים to divide any word in the חומש into its distinct syllables.

E. Identifies and explains how and when the טעמי המקרא affect the ניקוד of a word.

F. Use their knowledge of ניקוד to explain variations in ניקוד of grammatical items found in חומש.

G. Use their knowledge of דקדוק to explain both learned and unlearned commentaries that refer to or explain a דקדוק rule or variation found in חומש.

A. Differentiates between the different types of  תנועות  and can explain their purpose and distinct rules.

B. Differentiates between the different types of שואים and can explain their purpose and distinct rules.

C. Differentiates between the different types of דגשים and can explain their purpose and distinct rules.

D. Uses the rules of תנועות,שואים and דגשים to divide any word in the חומש into its distinct syllables.

E. Identifies and explains how and when the טעמי המקרא affect the ניקוד of a word.

F. Use their knowledge of ניקוד to explain variations in ניקוד of grammatical items found in חומש.

G. Use their knowledge of דקדוק to explain both learned and unlearned commentaries that refer to or explain a דקדוק rule or variation found in חומש.

Grades 1-6: N/A

Grades 7-8: Differentiates between the different types of  תנועות  and can explain their purpose and distinct rules.

Grades 1-6: N/A

Grades 7-8: Differentiates between the different types of שואים and can explain their purpose and distinct rules.

Grades 1-6: N/A

Grades 7-8: Differentiates between the different types of דגשים and can explain their purpose and distinct rules.

Grades 1-6: N/A

Grades 7-8: Uses the rules of תנועות,שואים and דגשים to divide any word in the חומש into its distinct syllables.

Grades 1-6: N/A

Grades 7-8: Identifies and explains how and when the טעמי המקרא affect the ניקוד of a word.

Grades 1-6: N/A

Grades 7-8: Use their knowledge of ניקוד to explain variations in ניקוד of grammatical items found in חומש.

Grades 1-6: N/A

Grades 7-8: Use their knowledge of דקדוק to explain both learned and unlearned commentaries that refer to or explain a דקדוק rule or variation found in חומש.

Sample assessments for standard 4.1