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

Thesis (DLitt)--Stellenbosch University, 1996.

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Main Author: Meister, Mauro Fernando
Other Authors: Van der Merwe, C. H. J.
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 1996
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access_status_str Open Access
author Meister, Mauro Fernando
author2 Van der Merwe, C. H. J.
author_browse Meister, Mauro Fernando
Van der Merwe, C. H. J.
author_facet Van der Merwe, C. H. J.
Meister, Mauro Fernando
author_sort Meister, Mauro Fernando
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (DLitt)--Stellenbosch University, 1996.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/55146
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:43:54.909Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 1996
publishDateRange 1996
publishDateSort 1996
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/55146 Interrogatives in Biblical Hebrew : a case study in the Joseph narrative Meister, Mauro Fernando Van der Merwe, C. H. J. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Department of Modern Foreign Languages. Bible. Genesis, XXXVII-L -- Criticism, interpretation, etc. Hebrew language -- Interrogative Dissertations -- Ancient Near Eastern Studies Thesis (DLitt)--Stellenbosch University, 1996. ENGLISH 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. AFRIKAANSE 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. Doctoral 1996-09 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/55146 en Stellenbosch University 195 leaves application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Bible. Genesis, XXXVII-L -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.
Hebrew language -- Interrogative
Dissertations -- Ancient Near Eastern Studies
Meister, Mauro Fernando
Interrogatives in Biblical Hebrew : a case study in the Joseph narrative
title Interrogatives in Biblical Hebrew : a case study in the Joseph narrative
title_full Interrogatives in Biblical Hebrew : a case study in the Joseph narrative
title_fullStr Interrogatives in Biblical Hebrew : a case study in the Joseph narrative
title_full_unstemmed Interrogatives in Biblical Hebrew : a case study in the Joseph narrative
title_short Interrogatives in Biblical Hebrew : a case study in the Joseph narrative
title_sort interrogatives in biblical hebrew a case study in the joseph narrative
topic Bible. Genesis, XXXVII-L -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.
Hebrew language -- Interrogative
Dissertations -- Ancient Near Eastern Studies
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/55146
work_keys_str_mv AT meistermaurofernando interrogativesinbiblicalhebrewacasestudyinthejosephnarrative