Telisha (Hebrew: תְּלִישָא) is a cantillation mark found in the Torah, Haftarah, and other books of the Hebrew Bible. There are two versions of the Telisha: Telisha ketana (תְּלִישָא קְטַנָּה) and Telisha gedola (תְּלִישָא גְּדוֹלָה), the latter of which has a longer melody. The Telisha trope can occur independently or can follow a Pazer or one of several other trope sounds. The Telisha ketana must be followed by a Kadma.[1]
The Hebrew word תְּלִישָא translates into English as detached. This is because they are never linked to the following note as a single phrase. קְטַנָּה refers to little (the shorter note) and גְדוֹלָה to great (the longer note).
The Telisha gedola can be found in the Torah 266 times.[2] The Telisha ketana occurs 451 times.[3]
Total occurrences
edit| Book | Telisha ketana |
Telisha gedola |
|---|---|---|
| Torah | 451[3] | 266[3] |
| Genesis | 92[3] | 51[3] |
| Exodus | 87[3] | 42[3] |
| Leviticus | 71[3] | 56[3] |
| Numbers | 88[3] | 50[3] |
| Deuteronomy | 113[3] | 67[3] |
| Nevi'im | 413[4] | 238[4] |
| Ketuvim | 350[4] | 335[4] |
Melody
editWhile the names "Telisha Ketana" and "Telisha Gedola" are 6 syllables each, they are usually applied to words with far fewer syllables, often just one. In one-syllable words, only the notes leading to and from the peak are included. In multiple-syllable words, the additional syllables are recited at the level of the first note leading to the peak.
Telisha Ketana
edit
Telisha Gedola
edit
References
edit- ^ A compendious grammar of the Hebrew language By G. F. R. Weidemann, page 49
- ^ Concordance of the Hebrew accents in the Hebrew Bible: Concordance ..., Volume 1 By James D. Price, page 241
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Concordance of the Hebrew accents in the Hebrew Bible: Concordance ..., Volume 1 By James D. Price, page 6
- ^ a b c d Concordance of the Hebrew accents in the Hebrew Bible: Concordance ..., Volume 1 By James D. Price, page 5