The particle אִם and conditionality in Biblical Hebrew revisited : a cognitive linguistic account
| dc.contributor.advisor | Van der Merwe, C. H. J. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Bivin, William E. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2017-01-18T17:05:39Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2017-03-29T11:43:55Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2017-01-18T17:05:39Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2017-03-29T11:43:55Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2017-03 | |
| dc.description | Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2017. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The present work is an investigation into both the semantics and functions of the particle אִם , and the conditional and non-conditional constructions in which it is found in Biblical Hebrew. A fresh examination of the particle and conditionality in Biblical Hebrew is warranted for two reasons. First, recent studies of conditionality based on a cognitive-functional based classification of conditionals have yielded fruitful results, indicating that the function of conditionals contributes to their interpretation. This study seeks to determine if this schema yields a more satisfying account of conditionality in Biblical Hebrew, as well as a better understanding of verb use in these constructions, than the results proffered heretofore. Secondly, advances in the cognitive linguistic sub-theories of Mental Space Theory and Construction Grammar have been utilized in the abovementioned cognitive-functional studies of conditionality. This study applies these to the Biblical Hebrew data in order to provide a more comprehensive explanation of the semantics of אִם and meaning construction in the constructions in which it is used. This study will, therefore, offer an analysis of the different classes of אִם -conditional and non-conditional constructions (such as הֲ...אִם questions, עַד אִם and so forth). The semantics of the particle and the role it has in each construction is considered. Furthermore, this study investigates whether the aforementioned cognitive-functional schema yields generalizations regarding verb use that were not obtainable under the traditional framework. The study confirms that אִם is the prototypical hypothetical marker in Biblical Hebrew and that it functions to build different types of mental spaces. Contextual factors can conspire to promote non-hypothetical construals. Schematic semantic components of the particle, grounded in its role in conditionals, are employed in non-conditional constructions in order to build alternative and background-scenario spaces utilized in contextual meaning-construction. Included in the study is an examination of the patterns of verb use in אִם -conditionals. A complex of factors including discourse type and context, viewpoint of the speaker responsible for the conditional (narrator or character), epistemic stance, and the location of the eventuality vis-à-vis the speech event crucially influences verb choice. Predictable patterns emerge and are discussed. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie werk word ondersoek ingestel na die semantiek en funksies van die partikel אִם , sowel as die voorwaardelike en nievoorwaardelike konstruksies waarin dit in Bybelse Hebreeus voorkom. ’n Vars ondersoek van die partikel en voorwaardelikheid in Bybelse Hebreeus word om twee redes as geregverdig beskou. Eerstens, onlangse studies oor voorwaardelikheid wat op ’n kognitief-funksioneel gemotiveerde klassifikasie van voorwaardelike konstruksies gegrond is, het vrugbare resultate opgelewer. Die fokus van die studie is om te bepaal of hierdie skema ’n meer bevredigende verklaring van voorwaardelikheid, en ’n duideliker begrip van die werkwoordgebruik in hierdie konstruksies, in Bybelse Hebreeus bied as die resultate wat tot dusver behaal is. Tweedens, vooruitgang in die kognitief-linguistiese subteorieë van Dinkruimteorie en Konstruksie-grammatika word vir die voormelde kognitief-funksionele studie van voorwaardelikheid gebruik. In die studie word dit op die data vir Bybelse Hebreeus toegepas om ’n meer omvattende verduideliking van die semantiek van אִם en betekeniskonstruksie, in die konstruksies waarin dit gebruik word, te gee. Daar word ’n ontleding van die verskillende klasse voorwaardelike en nievoorwaardelike אִם -konstruksies (הֲ...אִם -vrae, אִם עַד en so meer) in die studie gegee. Die semantiek van die partikel en die rol wat dit in elke konstruksie vertolk, word oorweeg. Verder ondersoek die studie die moontlikheid of die gemelde kognitief-funksionele skema veralgemenings oor werkwoordgebruik oplewer wat die tradisionele raamwerk nie kon bied nie. Die studie bevestig dat אִם die prototipiese hipotetiese merker in Bybelse Hebreeus is en dat dit gebruik word om verskillende soorte dinkruimtes te skep. Kontekstuele faktore kan meewerk om niehipotetiese vertolkings te bevorder. Skematiese semantiese komponente van die partikel, in sy ondersteunende rol in voorwaardelikes, word in nievoorwaardelike konstruksies gebruik om alternatiewe en agtergrondscenario-ruimtes daar te stel wat vir kontekstuele betekeniskonstruksie aangewend word. Daar word ook ondersoek ingestel na die patrone van werkwoordgebruik in אִם -voorwaardelikes. ’n Kompleks faktore, waaronder diskoerstipe en -konteks, die gesigspunt van die spreker (verteller of karakter) wat vir die voorwaardelike konstruksie verantwoordelik is, die epistemiese stand, en die plek van die eventualiteit vis-à-vis die spraakgebeure, is van deurslaggewende belang by werkwoordkeuse. Voorspelbare patrone kom te voorskyn en word bespreek. | af_ZA |
| dc.format.extent | 299 pages : illustrations | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/100898 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_ZA | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Biblical Hebrew conditionals | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Biblical Hebrew particle אִם | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Cognitive linguistics -- Research | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Hebrew language -- Semantics, Historical | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Biblical literature -- Analysis | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | UCTD | en_ZA |
| dc.title | The particle אִם and conditionality in Biblical Hebrew revisited : a cognitive linguistic account | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |