Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Dave Washburn <dwashbur AT nyx.net>]

On Saturday 13 March 2004 06:24, B. M. Rocine wrote:

[snip]
> For years now--can you believe how time flies?-- this has been a difficult
> feature of your model for me to swallow: that a wayyiqtol that you alledge
> to be imperfective is used most often in a context that features the
> advance of time.  In my understanding of aspect, the advance of time would
> favor, if not require, a perfective form.  But I may be understanding you. 
> Let me see if I can explain, in your view, how an imperfective form can be
> used in a passage where story time advances.
>
> Wayyiqtol refers to a situation that obtains (essentially saying that it
> begins) but the verb form doesn't by itself indicate anything about the
> situation's completion.  The verb form leaves, in and of itself, the
> situation open on the anterior end, because it is imperfective.  Then, in a
> text, along comes the next wayyiqtol, a new beginning.  A new beginning
> usually (but not necessarily) *implies* the ending of the previous
> situation.  IOW, one situation is now usually *inferred* to be complete
> simply because a new one has obtained or begun.
>
> This view of wayyiqtol seems rather like that of S.R. Driver, no?
[snip]

Bryan,
It actually sounds to me more like Galia Hatav's view that wayyiqtol advances 
R-time.

-- 
Dave Washburn
http://www.nyx.net/~dwashbur
Learning about Christianity from a non-Christian
is like getting a kiss over the telephone.