Biblical Hebrew Forum

[dwashbur AT nyx.net]

Karl,
Check out Galia Hatav's book, "Semantics of Aspect and Modality."  While I 
don't agree with
her whole premise (and especially that wayyiqtol is "sequential" according to 
a new
definition of sequentiality), she agrees that yiqtol is modal, and I think 
she's right.

On 19 Sep 2009 at 12:26, K Randolph wrote:

> While it is well recognized that the verbal forms have no temporal
> force,
> unlike most languages, I am questioning even the aspectual
> understanding. In
> particular, I questioned that the yiqtol refers to an imperfective
> aspect,
> while the qatal to a perfective aspect. The idea I threw out is as
> follows:
>
> Qatal-firm, certain, primary
>
> Yiqtol-optative, subjunctive, cohortative, secondary.

Dave Washburn

http://www.nyx.net/~dwashbur