Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Paul Zellmer <zellmer AT cag.pworld.net.ph>]

Dave Washburn wrote:

> I would like to make this comment about discourse level as over
> against clause level: it seems to me that discourse level study
> must have as its basis a sound view of the clause level.  Truthfully,
> in the discourse studies that I have read (admittedly few) I have not
> seen this; rather, they seem to try and construct a clause-level
> system as they go through discourse.  This strikes me as a "cart-
> before-the-horse" approach, though certainly well-intentioned.
> Again let me emphasize that this is simply how it looks to me at
> this point in my understanding of discourse analysis.
> Comments/corrections?  I know I'm sticking my neck out here, and
> would like to emphasize that I'm here to learn, not offend or attack...
> [helmet on again]

Dave,

I've plugged this before, but I would strongly suggest you look at the 
beginning
grammar that Bryan pulled together, written from a discourse analysis 
viewpoint.
Admittedly, it *is* a beginning grammar, which means there is a lot of very 
basic
material (aleph-beth, conjugations, etc.).  But Bryan has done an admirable 
job
reducing the discourse analysis model for biblical Hebrew into a form easily
comprehended.  It is simplified to some degree (one does not want to 
discourage
beginning students!), so it does not address all the tough issues.  But 
through it, I
feel sure you will see that discourse analysis does indeed take into 
consideration
clause-level analysis.

He includes several readings from the Tanakh that shows the interplay of 
clauses
within the various genres, and the interplay of genres within dialogues.  I 
have found
that the discourse analysis sections have been extremely understandable to 
even to
students whose native language is not English.  In fact, I would dearly love 
to find a
similar text to use as a beginning *Greek* grammar.

Bryan, have you ever thought to put together a description of your discourse 
analysis
presentation without the beginning Hebrew items?

HTH,

Paul
--
Paul and Dee Zellmer, Jimmy Guingab, Geoffrey Beltran
Ibanag Translation Project
Cabagan, Philippines

zellmer AT faith.edu.ph