Big points: are
points originally used in older manuscripts written without vowels to separate
words of the same spelling but different meanings. They were also used to
distinguish verb tenses.
Pronouns, nouns, and verbs use these dots. These points were
later dropped from books using the vowel system but remained in some books with
vowels.
For example: a large dot is put over ܗ in the 3rd feminine pronominal affix; and also in ܗ̇ܘ he, ܗ̇ܝ she; over ܡ̇ܢ who and under ܡ̣ܢ from.
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From |
From Egypt to Assyria. |
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Who |
ܡ̇ܢ ܕܝܵܗَܒܼܸܠ ܡܝܼܵܐ ܠܨܸܗܝܹܐ ܒܓܵܢܹܗ ܠܹܐ ܨܵܗܹܐ. Who gives water to the thirsty, himself will not thirst. |
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He |
He is my brother’s son (nephew). |
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She |
She is a teacher. |
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Some words are always written without a vowel, and so their derivatives,
for example: ܟܠ every, each is written without a dot as in the classical language, and is to be pronounced kol.
ܟܠܵܢܵܝܵܐ universal, pronounced Kolanaya, and ܟܠܹܗ all of it, pronounced Koleh, are also written without a dot.
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Examples of words with the same spelling but different meanings utilizing big points:
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ܥܘ̇ܠܐ |
ܥܵܘܵܠܵܐ |
A wicked man |
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ܥܘ̣ܠܐ |
ܥܵܘܠܵܐ |
Wickedness, Iniquity |
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ܥܘ̤ܠܐ |
ܥܘܼܠܵܐ |
Fetus, a new born baby |
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These are Classical Assyrian words |
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