The Letter ‘Ayin (ע)
The letter ‘Ayin (ע) is pronounced the same as the ‘Ayin in Arabic (ع) and there is nothing like it in any European language. Therefore, it was only maintained among the Jews of Arab lands. In other Jewish communities, it was transformed into an Aleph (א) or a Yod (י) or a soft Gimal (ג) or a Nun (נ) or both of them together like “NG.” Shema’ (שׁמע) became Shemang (שׁמנגּ). Jewish law has already been determined that one who reads his ‘Ayin (ע) as if it were an Aleph (א) is disqualified from reading Torah for the congregation, and he’s disqualified from performing the priestly blessings. If this was said regarding the switching of the ‘Ayin (ע) to Aleph (א), which are both guttural letters, how much more so with the other substitutions, which are not even guttural.
In our time, most of the world pronounces the ‘Ayin (ע) exactly as if it were an Aleph (א), This is a major perversion. Concerning people like them, Jewish law was disqualified them from reading the Torah for the congregation and from performing the Priestly Blessing. It’s especially important to be careful when reading the Torah, reciting the Shema’ and praying, to not turn the ‘Ayin (ע) into an Aleph (א) because in most cases this changes the meaning of the words entirely. Sometimes it even leads to blasphemy toward God, heaven forfend. For example ביעור (burning) can be read as ביאור (explanation), קריעה (tearing) can be read as קריאה (reading). נסע (he travelled) can be read as נסא (he married). עושׁר (wealth) can be read as אושׁר (luck). רעה (bad) can be read as ראה (he saw). עצר (he stopped) can be read as אצר (he stored). There are similar cases where the meaning changed entirely, and when they’re directed toward God, sometimes they can be blasphemous. For example: ועבדתם לעבוד (words for worship) turn into the root for “loss.” נשׁבע (sworn) turns into נשׁבא (taken captive). עין (eye) turns into אין (nothing). There are similar cases.
There are those who pronounce the ‘Ayin (ע) exactly as if it were a Yod (י). They’ll pronounce למעלה as if it’s למיילה and מעריב as if it’s מייריב. There are those who equate the Hebrew ‘Ayin (ע) to the English E. Therefore, they relate to it as if it has no pronunciation of its own, but serves to indicate a vowel, as we see sometimes with the letters אהו”י.. This is a huge error because the ‘Ayin (ע) absolutely has its own pronunciation consistently. Even when it comes at the end of a word with no vowel, it must be emphasized with our mouths. . There is no difference between the ‘Ayin (ע) and the Resh (ר) at the end of a word as far as being pronounced. For example, the Resh (ר) in the words דבר or שׁמר is the same as the ‘Ayin (ע) in the words שׁמע, ידע and פרע. Similarly, when it comes with a Shewa only, it’s pronunciation is manifested as a silent Shewa (in other words, the vowel is silent, but the consonant is pronounced). For example, in the words שׁמעתי, ידעתי and פרעתי. The ‘Ayin (ע) behaves exactly the same as the Resh (ר) in the word שׁמרתי or the Lamed (ל) in the word אכלתי. Therefore, one must learn to pronounce the ‘Ayin (ע) correctly so that it does not get lost when it comes with a silent Shewa.
Translator’s note: Early European Jews tried valiantly to preserve the pronunciation of the letter ‘Ayin (ע) even though it was absent from their colloquial languages. This is how the Yiddish version of Jacob (יעקב) ended up being “Yankif.” The added N is a vestige of the ‘Ayin (ע). Similarly, Sephardic Jews who fled to the Netherlands from the Inquisition ended up pronouncing the term “Arba’ Confoth” (ארבע כנפות. A reference to the “four corners” of a garment required tassels, such as a prayer shawl) as Arbang Kanfot.” The added NG is a vestige of the ‘Ayin (ע).
