Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>]

On 17/01/2004 11:20, Polycarp66 AT aol.com wrote:

> ...
>
> This isn't really quite what I understand when one says "Think in X."  Yes, 
> it's possible to read a passage in another language and not sit there almost 
> (if not actually) writing down a translation.  Also, there are things which come 
> to mind from reading in a language which simply come out in that language.  
> Why do we say "Cogito ergo sum" rather than "I think therefore I am"?  Because 
> we learned it that way.  These are simply a library of phrases which we can 
> call up on occassion.  I don't consider this "thinking" in a language.
>
> gfsomsel
>  
George, perhaps your problem is that you know a little bit of too many 
languages. Have you ever immersed yourself for months in any one 
language, other than your mother tongue? After that time you do find 
yourself beginning to think in that language. Now it is clear that Karl 
does immerse himself in biblical Hebrew, reading large quantities of it 
every day (unpointed and in paleo-Hebrew characters, I understand). 
After some time he really will begin to think in biblical Hebrew. He may 
even find that he understands words better than the best lexicographers 
(although that is no excuse for accusing them of sloppy thinking etc). I 
applaud Karl's goal of trying to think in biblical Hebrew, and am glad 
that he has reached some success in it. And one day, perhaps if he 
visits somewhere like Bukhara, he just might find himself meeting 
someone with whom his only common language is biblical Hebrew; I suspect 
he would find himself able (better than me) to carry on a meaningful 
conversation with them, as long as he avoids subjects which cannot be 
expressed in the limited biblical Hebrew vocabulary.

--
Peter Kirk
peter AT qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/