Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Dave Washburn" <dwashbur AT nyx.net>]

Bryan,
Before I can give an adequate response I need to know what you 
mean by "semantics of the verbal forms."  I suspect we're using the 
word "semantics" two different ways, but I want to be sure.  Can 
you develop that phrase for me a little?

> Dear Dave,
> You and Niccacci are after two different objectives, I believe. Niccacci
> has sought out a pragmatic or functional system for BH prose whereas I
> think you are seeking out the semantics of the verb forms.  I think verbal
> semantics is more or less not germane to Niccacci's model.  He has not been
> able to detect the functions of the verb forms in poetic discourse.  I do
> not believe he will be able to ascertain a functional system in poetry
> without first accounting for the meanings of the forms.  D. Michel, by
> comparison, goes to BH poetry in order to determine the meanings of the
> forms.
> 
> That help? 
> > I just read the following statement in A. Niccacci, "Analyzing 
> > Biblical Hebrew Poetry" (JSOT 74:78).  He says that one of the 
> > "main characteristics of poetry versus prose" is a "non-detectable 
> > versus detectable verbal system."  Looking at the other 
> > characteristics he lists, it's clear that he is saying poetry has a non-
> > detectable verbal system.  It seems to me that if he is correct, then 
> > poetry is definitely not the place to look in our quest to understand 
> > the verbal system.  I'm wondering what everyone else thinks of this 
> > statement, and why.

Dave Washburn
http://www.nyx.net/~dwashbur
A Bible that's falling apart means a life that isn't.