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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] Helo'

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  • From: George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>
  • To: B-Hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Helo'
  • Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:07:19 +1100

Depending on the context it could have a few different functions. One such
function is highly rhetorical: it expects a significant answer of "yes" to
the negative question being asked. The corollary of this is that a question
asked with the interrogative particle HA- but which lacks the negative
particle LO) expects a negative answer.

In other cases, it simply marks a positive answer to a previously asked
question. We have idiomatic ways of doing this in English, too. Consider
possible ways you might answer the question, "Who is that woman?":

- "Why, that's Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, wife of Uriah."
- "Well, if it isn't Bathsheba, daughter Eliam, wife of Uriah!"

Notice how both these answers employ words which would not normally be
associated with a straight answer, yet when used idiomatically in the given
context, they present no problem at all.


Regards,

GEORGE ATHAS
Moore Theological College (Sydney, Australia)
www.moore.edu.au








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