Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] (no subject)

b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Biblical Hebrew Forum

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>
  • To: bill.rea AT canterbury.ac.nz
  • Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] (no subject)
  • Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 01:44:21 +0100

On 26/07/2005 22:25, Bill Rea wrote:

Peter wrote:-


Rolf, let me make this clear. I have stated that there is a fundamental
logical flaw in your argument, that it simply confirms your initial a
priori assumption (that there are two semantically distinct verb forms
rather than fouror five). This devastating critique basically implies
that your work is valueless.


First, if a man (or woman) has undertaken research, written up a Ph.D.
thesis, had it examined by multiple examiners who are experts in their
field including at least one external to the University the student is at,
defended it orally, and been awarded his degree, one could rightly assume
that the person's work had some value.


Has Rolf actually been awarded his degree? If so, I must assume that he was able to give a satisfactory answer to the critical questions of the external examiner, but has chosen not to tell us that answer. Nevertheless, there are flawed PhD dissertations in circulation, because even the best examiners as well as students are human.

Second, on the question of two, four or five semantically distinct
verb forms is it possible to demonstrate which of these is indeed
correct without having to make some apriori assumption? It seems
to me that Peter's objection to Rolf's two verb form model can also
be leveled at a model which assumes a different number. ...


Absolutely! In fact the argument was originally Rolf's, with the number "four".

... Put another
way, if we make no assumptions about the number of semantically
distinct verb forms can we arrive at an answer that convinces
the majority of scholars in the field?


Well, we certainly cannot if we do make assumptions. So if we are to stand a chance we need to make no assumptions. But it is extremely hard to come up with a sound argument, especially for biblical Hebrew, for which we have no mother tongue speakers and a limited corpus. And even if the argument is sound, it is by no means sure to convince the majority of scholars, not least because those scholars have their own presuppositions and entrenched positions. But that's another matter.

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



--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.9.5/58 - Release Date: 25/07/2005





Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page