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  • From: Rolf Furuli <furuli AT online.no>
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Syriac ; was BH verbal system
  • Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 08:57:09 +0100

Dear Randall,

I start with a few definitions: The deictic center (C) is the vantage-point from which an event is seen; event time (ET) is the time an action takes from beginning to end; and reference time (RT) is the part of ET that is focused upon or made visible. Aspect is the relationship between ET and RT and represents non-deictic time (time that is not defined in relation to the deictic center). Tense is the relationship between ET and C and represents deictic time. Languages such as Burmese and Mandarin do not have tense, so we can only speak of temporal reference and not tense in these languages.

When ET comes before C, the tense is past; when ET comes after C, the tense is future, and when ET coincides with C, the tense (or temporal reference) is present. I use "temporal reference" as an alternative, because, for example, I do not analyze English present as a tense.

Modality indicates how the speaker or writer views the words; it is related to wish, will, certainty/uncertainty. Indicative relates to this world, while modality relates to imagined worlds.

Then we look at Matthew, chapter 24. and we start with the QATAL of v. 15.

And English translation can be: "And when you see (QATAL) the abominable sign of desolation, which was spoken (QATAL) of by Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place, then use discernment (NEQTOL, the same as BH YIQTOL)."

The deictic center is speech time, and there can be no doubt that reference time (the seeing) would occur after C. Therefore the reference is future. Do the words refer to this real world or to imagined worlds? Jesus referred to a prophecy uttered by Daniel, and his words show that he was certain that the abominable sign of abomination would come and would be seen. No one would take Jesus' words as: "If you happen to see the ab.," "you might see the ab...," "Daniel's words may have a fulfillment, and in that case, if you se the ab.." Jesus referred to this world and to a certain situation that would come in the future. The fact that Jesus exhorts them in a certain way, is dependent on the fulfillment in this world, and this fulfillment is not dependent upon the exhortation. Thus, the seeing event expressed by QATAL is in the indicative and the exhortation is modal. So, the QATAL form is used with future reference, and QATAL can therefore not be defined as "grammaticalized past".

We have a very similar situation in v. 33. As an answer to the question, "what will be the sign of your presence," Jesus mentions particular events that will occur in this world; in his mind this was a certainty and not a possibility or a hope. The seeing of these events would be a reality, and this seeing was not dependent on the exhortation. So again, the seeing situation is indicative, and the exhortation is modal.

BTW. Some people would say that future reference always is modal, and that for example English does not have a future tense. I take the side of B. Comrie in this case and analyze English future as future tense. I also analyze Classical Greek future as future tense.


Best regards,

Rolf Furuli
University of Oslo










>Syriac QATAL is normally
used with past reference, but in Matthew 24:33
the QATAL form of the verb XZ) (to see) is used
with future reference. >

This sentence also illustrates the need to evaluate how an analyst
divides and assigns data.
The verb Hazaytun 'you saw' is in a subordinate clause mo d- 'what that'
to main clause with an imperative "Know".
The main command to 'know' indirectly relates to the future,
but it is specifically in the volitional world,
"i want you to know" the non-indicative world.
The subordinate 'seeing' can also be viewed as relatively past to the
'knowing'. "When you would see, then you should know.."

So one should not take this Syriac qatal as an unambiguous, simple
'future context'.

braxot
Yochanan


--
Randall Buth, PhD
www.biblicalulpan.org
randallbuth AT gmail.com
Biblical Language Center
Learn Easily - Progress Further - Remember for Life
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