Interrogatives in Biblical Hebrew : a case study in the Joseph narrative

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dc.contributor.advisorVan der Merwe, C. H. J.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMeister, Mauro Fernandoen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Department of Modern Foreign Languages.en_ZA
dc.date.issued1996-09
dc.descriptionThesis (DLitt)--Stellenbosch University, 1996.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH ABSTRACT: INTERROGATIVES IN BIBLICAL HEBREW A CASE STUDY IN THE JOSEPH NARRATIVE In the light of the present literature on the subject of interrogatives in Biblical Hebrew a new study is necessary. Assessing some of the traditional grammatical approaches to the subject one notices that their presentation is sometimes confusing. The major problem with these presentations is that they do not make a proper distinction between the form (interrogative) and the most usual functions of this type of sentence (question). Thus, although most grammars enable the student to identify an interrogative sentence through surface level criteria, they do not enable the student to identify its many functions (usually functions are only listed without any explicit criteria). Observing the description of interrogatives in other languages one notes that the descriptions are much more clear when form and function are properly identified. In this study we propose to investigate interrogative sentences in their context using a framework that will allow one to identify their functions. Our initial hypothesis is that speech act theory combined with an approach that allows the analysis of text, beyond the boundaries of sentences, can be fruitful. For this purpose we follow the approach of Schiffrin, Approaches to Discourse (1994). Schiffrin combines speech act theory with principles of discourse analysis (analysis of text), allowing other factors (textual and social contexts) to be included in the investigation. In order to verify our hypothesis we apply the framework above to the interrogatives in the Joseph Narrative (Genesis 37 -50). We chose this narrative as sample for the simple fact that it is rich in interrogative sentences and allows one to deal with context more easily. We do not propose to interpret the narrative itself but we only use it to test the initial hypothesis. The findings of the investigation are presented in a final section, where some suggestions are made regarding two aspects: how to approach interrogative sentences in the First Testament and how the subject of interrogatives in Biblical Hebrew should be presented to newcomers. The first suggestion incorporate a series of 'rules-of-thumb' as to how to find out the functions of interrogatives.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: INTERROGATIEWE IN BYBELSE HEBREEUS. 'N GEVALLESTUDIE AAN DIE HAND VAN DIE JOSEFVERHAAL Geoordeel aan bestaande publikasies op die terrein van interrogatiewe (vraagvorme) in Bybelse Hebreeus is 'n ondersoek na die verskynsel onvermydelik. Vera! sommige werke in terme van die tradisioneel grammatika benadering neig om verwarrend te wees. Die kern van die probleem setel in die feit dat daar nie 'n duidelike onderskeid gemaak word tussen die vorm (interrogatief) en die mees gebruiklike funksies van die vorm(e) nie. Gevolglik, alhoewel die meeste grammatikas die identifikasie van die interrogatiewe sinne op grand van oppervlakstruktuurkenmerke moontlik maak, is hulle nie van veel nut as dit by die identifikasie van die funksies van die konstruksies kom' nie (hulle lys normaalweg slegs die funksies sender om enige kriteria aan te bied op grand waarvan die verskillende funksies geTdentifiseer kan word). Wanneer 'n mens na die beskrywing van interrogatiewe in ander tale kyk, blyk die voordele van 'n konsekwente onderskeid tussen die vorm en funksie duidelik. In hierdie studie wil ens in die beskrywing van interrogatiewe van 'n taalkundige raamwerk gebruik wat die identifisering van die funksies van die konstruksies aan die hand van eksplisiet kriteria moontlik maak. Ons hipotese is dat die taalhandelingsteorie in kombinasie met 'n benadering wat die analise van tekste anderkant die grense van sinne moontlik maak, met sukses vir die doel ingespan kan word. Vir die doel volg ens vera! die benadering van Debora Schiffrin, soos geformuleer in haar boek Approaches to Discourse (1994). Sy kombineer die taalhandelingsteorie met beginsels van diskoersanalise (analise van tekste), en laat dan oak neg toe dat ander faktore (tekstuele en sosiale konteks) in 'n ondersoek meespeel. Ten einde ens hipotese te toets, beskryf ens die interrogatiewe in die Josefverhaal in terme van bg. raamwerk. Ons het besluit om hierdie verhaal as monster te gebruik omrede dit soveel interrogatiewe bevat. Soveel gegewens binne die bestek van een verhaal maak dit moontlik om oak die konteks van die verhaal deeglik te verreken. Uit die aard van die saak gaan ens nie pro beer om die verhaal self te interpreteer nie. Dit bied slegs die data aan die hand waarvan ens hipotese getoets kan word. Die bevindings van ens ondersoek word in die finale afdeling van die werk aangebied. Daar word die volgende gesuggereer: (1) hoe interrogatiewe in die Eerste (Ou) Testament benader kan word en (2) hoe die tipe konstruksies in BH aan mense wat die taal aanleer, aangebied kan word. Die eerste suggestie sluit 'n aantal praktiese wenke in ocr hoe die funksie van 'n interrogatief bepaal kan word.en_ZA
dc.format.extent195 leaves
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/55146
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.subjectBible. Genesis, XXXVII-L -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.en_ZA
dc.subjectHebrew language -- Interrogativeen_ZA
dc.subjectDissertations -- Ancient Near Eastern Studiesen_ZA
dc.titleInterrogatives in Biblical Hebrew : a case study in the Joseph narrativeen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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