[HANASHIR:16284] the continuing "ruach" discussion

[Robin Sparr <rssings...>]

Just trying to clarify here: I was under the impression there would 
only be  a strong gutteral break if the vowel appeared under an aleph 
or ayin; e.g., if ruach were spelled resh-vav-aleph(or aying)-chet 
(which of course it is not).  So the "w" sound is not really lazy 
diction, just the natural transition from the "oo" to the "ah".  I've 
certainly never heard ruach (or luach, or any similar word) pronounced 
with a gutteral break, like ru-ach.  An English-language example might 
be a word like "serious" - the "i" and "ou" are not a dipthong, but 2 
distinct syllables, but it almost sounds like there's another letter 
("y") in the middle (ser-i-yus); there's no gutteral break between the 
vowel that ends one syllable and that which begins the next.  I do 
agree with Ilana Axel's dipthong-related comments: neither ruach nor 
elo-ah contain dipthongs; the syllables are discreet. Of course, if I'm 
incorrect, I certainly welcome the opportunity to be educated!
just mho,
robin sparr-rothman

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