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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] Aspect

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  • From: Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>
  • To: furuli AT online.no
  • Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Aspect
  • Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2004 10:59:18 -0700

On 10/06/2004 08:58, furuli AT online.no wrote:

Dear Peter,

What I tried to convey can be illustrated the following way: The verb $YR "to sing" is marked for durativity and dynamicity. Regardless of whether you use the verb as QATAL, YIQTOL, or participle, you can never blot out the dynamicity and durativity of the root. On the other hand, punctiliarity and stativity can change, because a punctiliar verb in Hebrew can in one context have a durative interpretation and a stative verb can in one context have a fientive interpretation. I think most Hebraists would agree with this, possible except in the case with punctiliarity.


I won't dispute this. But how much of it is a real discovery about Hebrew, and how much is logically derivable from the linguistic model and the definitions which you are using?


Regarding aspect, my claim is that a YIQTOL will always be imperfective, and no context can change that. Could you please refer to scholars who believe in an aspectual interpretation of Hebrew verbs who say that YIQTOL has one aspect in one context and another aspect or no aspect in other contexts?


Well, only those who consider the WAY- prefix as converting the aspect. But that is irrelevant as we are not talking about the aspect of YIQTOL verbs. The verb in question is Niphal QATAL with a WE- prefix, isn't it? Many consider that this prefix converts the tense. Maybe some consider that it converts the aspect. I'm not sure.

My complaint is a different one, that you presented uncancellability of aspect as a conclusion of your studies of Hebrew when in fact it is a (language-independent) presupposition of your linguistic model.


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





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