Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu>]

1. Gramaticalization merely means the arbitrary designating of such  
combinations as pp+verb to have the grammatical form of a future  
action. Hence TA-B-IY is essentially: she-B-it = she-bring-it.
2. I don't divide a word into syllables, I only separate the prefixes  
and suffixes from the body of the verb. The root of ZAMMAH is ZMM,  
and AH is 'she'.
3. A "sleeper" property is a good, yet an unassuming, property, not  
calling attention to itself, which can acquired under favorable  
conditions.
4. We are in agreement. pp+verb indicates future action only if you  
want it, or need it, to represent future action. Ex. 15:1 opens with  
AZ YA-$IYR MO$E, where YA-$IYR is but he-sing, namely: then he-sing,  
moses.
5. MELEL is a mouthful, MALE) of words. It is related to to MLIYL-AH  
of Deut. 23:36.

Isaac Fried, Boston University

On Feb 2, 2011, at 6:31 PM, fred burlingame wrote:

> Hello Isaac;
>
> Thanks for your instructive comments.
>
> "Gramaticalization" is kind of a big word ... for me anyhow; but if  
> i hear you correctly, the richness and the depth of the hebrew  
> language defies compartmentalization into "rule" boxes.
> 1. The song (proverbs 31:10-31) speaks to past, present, and  
> future; or the timeless character of אשת חיל (e-shet ha-yil) .
>
> 2. Proverbs 31:16 utilizes a suffixed verb (zam-mah) זממה . I am  
> not sure why you divide the pronunciation "zamm-ah?" I am also not  
> sure what you mean by "sleeper properties" and "keeping her eyes  
> open," in the context of this verse. If you mean the suffixed verb  
> speaks to the past tense, but the poet also implies & intends to  
> convey the present and future tenses, I agree.
> 3. Proverbs 31:11, uses a prefixed verb (ye-h-sar) יחסר . I  
> agree with your sentiment that the future tense expressed here.
>
> 4. Proverbs 31:14, adopts a prefixed verb also (ta-vi) תביא .  
> And I agree with your conclusion of timelessness here.
>
> My conclusion therefore becomes similar to my comments to  
> Nir. ....; Prefixed and suffixed verbs generally mark future and  
> past tenses, respectively, but actual usage can (and frequently  
> does) change and enlarge the tenses indicated by the verb.
>
> And finally, if lamed ל means "lofty;" what about מלל (ma-lal)?  
> How do we arrive at a verb meaning "speak," from "lofty" letter  
> root meaning? The meaning of mem?
>
> regards,
>
> fred burlingame
>
> On Wed, Feb 2, 2011 at 4:19 PM, Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu> wrote:
> You are right, an E$-ET XAYIL is always an E$-ET XAYIL, from age 12  
> to her last day, and then her daughters become each in her turn an E 
> $-ET XAYIL. The whole thing is timeless. Do you want the author to  
> declare that she had her eyes open for "sleeper" properties (ZAMM- 
> AH SADEH), that she is now keeping her eyes open for "sleeper",  
> properties, and even in coming years she will still have her eyes  
> open for "sleeper" properties? The poet talks about proven acts in  
> the past with the understanding that by virtue of the universal law  
> of continuity they will remain such.
> When it comes to V-$ALAL LO YE-XSAR, I feel the future promise of  
> LO YE-XSAR, there will be never a lack of food. Yet, in MI-ME-RXAQ  
> TA-B-IY LAXM-AH, I see TA-B-IY as timeless, as merely she-bring-it,  
> with gramaticalization thrown to the wind.
> The word XAYIL from the root XL, has an L indicating elevation.
>
> Isaac Fried, Boston University
>
>
> >