The verbal system of the Aramaic of Daniel : an explanation in the context of grammaticalization / by Tarsee Li.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Li, Tarsee.

Series:

Studies in the Aramaic interpretation of Scripture ; v. 8.

Studies in the Aramaic interpretation of Scripture

Language:

Aramaic

English

Subjects (All):

Bible. Daniel.

Aramaic language--Verb.

Aramaic language.

Aramaic language--Grammar.

Bible. Daniel--Aramaic--Language, style.

Bible.

Physical Description:

xvi, 197 pages ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2009.

Summary:

This book explains the verbal system of the Aramaic of Daniel in the context of current research on grammaticalization, which, though first mentioned by Meillet in 1912, did not flourish until the beginning of the 1980's, and has only more recently been applied to the study of Ancient Near Eastern languages. Although various aspects of the Aramaic of Daniel have been subject of numerous studies, including a few exhaustive studies on the verbal system in the last century, it remains among the most difficult to explain. The explanation offered here is coherent with the historical development of Aramaic as well as the observable tendencies in the development of human languages in general.

Contents:

Introduction 1

A The Aim of the Present Study 1

B Grammaticalization 2

1 Unidirectionality 3

2 Layering and Persistence 4

3 Reanalysis and Analysis/Rule Generalization 5

4 Other Phenomena 5

5 Limitations of Grammaticalization 6

C Previous Studies 7

D Description of the Present Research 9

E Some Presuppositions 12

F Morphosyntax and Discourse Analysis/Textlinguistics 16

G Issues of Date and Provenance 17

H Issues of Interpretation 19

The Suffix Conjugation 20

A Preliminary Discussion of Concepts and Issues 20

B Present Anterior/Resultative 23

C Past Anterior/Resultative 30

D Future Anterior/Resultative 32

E Simple Past 32

F Stative Suffix Conjugation Verbs 33

G Modality 35

1 Hypothetical/Conditional 35

2 Epistemic 36

3 Evidential 36

H Summary 38

The Active Participle 39

A Preliminary Discussion of Concepts and Issues 39

B Nominal Functions 43

C The Active Participle in Formulaic Expressions 43

D Imperfective 45

1 Past Progressive 45

2 Past Habitual or Iterative/Frequentative 48

3 Past Inceptive 49

4 General Present 50

5 Actual Present 51

6 Performative Present 51

7 Historical Present 52

E Non-Imperfective Functions that Overlap with the Prefix Conjugation 55

F Summary 57

The Non-Active Participles 58

A Preliminary Discussion of Concepts and Issues 58

B The Passive Participle/Verbal Adjective 60

1 From Verbal Adjective to Resultative Participle 61

2 Nominal Functions 66

2.1 Predicate Adjective 66

2.2 Attributive 67

2.3 Substantival 67

2.4 Adjunct/Complement 67

3 Verbal Functions 68

C The T-Stem Participle 70

1 Passive/Reflexive Voice 70

2 Imperfective 72

3 Predicate Adjective 73

D The Syntax of the Passive Participle and the T-Stem Participle Contrasted 74

E Active Participles in Generalized Subject Constructions 76

F Summary 77

Participles with [Page no. VIII] or 79

A Preliminary Discussion of Issues 79

B The Complex Verb Phrase + Participle 80

1 Progressive 80

2 Habitual or Iterative/Frequentative 81

3 Inceptive 82

4 Future 82

5 Modality 82

C The Complex Verb Phrase + Participle 83

D The Complex Verb Phrase Participle + 85

1 Progressive 85

2 Reiteration and/or Other Functions 86

E The Relationship between / + Participle and Participle + 89

F An Optional Grammatical Construction 91

G The Passive Participle/Verbal Adjective in combination with / 93

H Summary 96

The Prefix Conjugation 98

A Preliminary Discussion of Concepts and Issues 98

B Non-Modal Functions 99

1 Simple Future 100

2 General Present 101

3 Past Imperfective 103

C Modality 109

1 Agent-Oriented Modalities 110

1.1 Obligation 111

1.2 Ability 111

1.3 Root Possibility 111

2 Speaker-Oriented Modalities 112

2.1 Affirmative Directives 112

2.2 Prohibition 116

3 Epistemic Modalities 117

3.1 Possibility 117

3.2 Inferred Certainty 118

4 Subordinate/Subjunctive Modalities 118

4.1 Hypothetical/Conditional 119

4.2 Temporal subordinate clauses 120

4.3 Complement 121

4.4 Purpose 122

4.5 Result 124

D Jussive 125

E The Prefix Conjugation Form of the Verb 126

F Summary 127

The Imperative 129

A Introductory Remarks 129

B Command 129

C Permission 129

D Request 130

E Optative 131

F Summary 131

The Infinitive 133

A Preliminary Discussion of Concepts and Issues 133

B Nominal Functions 134

C Verbal Functions 135

1 Complement 135

2 Purpose 136

3 Prohibition 136

Summary 137

Auxiliaries 138

A Introductory Remarks 138

B The Auxiliary [Page no. x] 138

C The Copula 138

D The Auxiliaries and 140

E The Auxiliary 143

F The Alleged Auxiliary 143

G Summary 144

Overview and Implications 145

A Introductory Remarks 145

B Overview 145

1 Anterior/Resultative 145

2 Simple Past vs. Past Perfective 146

3 Imperfective 148

3.1 Progressive 148

3.2 General Present 148

3.3 Actual Present 149

4 Future 151

5 Modality 151

6 Summary 152

C Grammaticalization and the Verb in the Aramaic of Daniel 152

1 Unidirectionality 153

2 Layering and Persistence 154

3 Reanalysis and Analysis/Rule Generalization 155

4 Other Remarks 156

D The Prominence of Tense and Aspect 157

E Conclusion 159.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [176]-185) and indexes.

ISBN:

9789004175143

9004175148

OCLC:

306803487