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2642

 

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SEQUENCES OF VOWELS

(1911)

 

Objections have no doubt often been raised to the assertion made by Stekel that in dreams and associations names which have to be concealed seem to be replaced by others that resemble them only in containing the same sequence of vowels. A striking analogy is, however, provided from the history of religion. Among the ancient Hebrews the name of God was taboo; it might neither be spoken aloud nor written down. (This is far from being an isolated example of the special significance of names in archaic civilizations.) This prohibition was so implicitly obeyed that to this very day the vocalization of the four consonants in God’s name () remains unknown. It was, however, pronounced ‘Jehovah’, being supplied with the vowels of the word ‘Adonai’ (‘Lord’), against which there was no such prohibition. (Reinach, 1905-12, 1, 1.)