Re: oyf(n) vs. af(n)

[Bill Barabash <billb978...>]

In Yiddish phonetic spelling, the vov-yud diphthong is "oy"
(as if a dot is over the vov), and when a word begins in a
vowel sound its spelling begins with a silent alef.

So it's really the "af" pronunciation that's the exception
to the general phonetic spelling rules -- "oyf" is how it's
written (and sometimes pronounced).

-- Bill B.

>So, my next question is why is it written alef-vov-yud-fe?  What is its
>etymolological origin?  If the words of Hebrew derivation, Loshen Koydesh,
>are transliterated as spoken, why would alef-vov-yud-fe be transliterated
>oyf in order to conform to the orthography, as has been suggested to me?
>
>Lorele
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