more pronunciations...

[Amy Z]

Naama wrote:

> I do remember, thought, that somebody once told me that to those 
who 
> don't speak these languages, Hebrew and Arabic sound the same. Is 
> that your experience, too?

I don't recall; the last time I heard Arabic spoken was probably 20 
years ago when I was in Israel.  And although I don't speak Hebrew, I 
know enough words (from "prayerbook Hebrew") that they jump out at me 
as I'm listening, so I don't have the virgin ears necessary to make 
the experiment.  I wouldn't be surprised if they sounded quite 
similar.  The ways Arabic- and Hebrew-speaking people accent their 
English sound very similar to me, though being told that would 
probably infuriate both Arafat and Sharon no end.

Amy Z