Biblical Hebrew Forum

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

Yochanan Childs wrote:

> OK.  You all are calling this and x-qatal precisely why?  Because it comes 
> in the
> midst of a series of otherwise unbroken wayyiqtols?  I hope you don't mind 
> these very
> elementary questions.

Yochanan,

I kept looking for a response to this very good question, but I haven't seen 
one yet.  I
was gone on a short trip when you asked your question, so I apologize for not 
responding
myself.

The term X-qatal refers to qatal clauses whose verbs are not clause initial.  
X simply
stands for a word or phrase which stands clause-initial.  However, many if 
not most would
exclude words like 'asher and lo' from qualifying for X.  Normally, we have 
the clause's
subject or one of the types of objects in the fronted position of the X-qatal.

In predictive narratives and instructional discourses, where the predominant 
verb form
tends to be weqatal, we find a similar construction that is referred to as 
X-yiqtol.
Again, it merely refers to a yiqtol clause with the verb in a medial position.

In times past on this list, we have had discussions as to how to describe 
what this
construction seems to be doing.  (I'm talking clause level now, which is a 
little bit
different from the discourse level discussion that is currently on-going.)  
There seems
to be a focus or a calling of attention to whatever comes before the verb.  
That is why
this form is used in contrasting activities or states of various actors in 
stories.
Bryan has coined a term that appears to bring this characteristic out without 
raising the
hackles of those for whom terms like "focus" or "emphasis" carry special 
significance.
He calls this characteristic "topicalization".

HTH,

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

zellmer AT faith.edu.ph