Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Arnaud Fournet" <fournet.arnaud AT wanadoo.fr>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rolf Furuli" <furuli AT online.no>
To: <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Friday, February 04, 2011 9:00 AM
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] On the history of Hebrew YIQTOL and the Hebrew verb


Dear Bryant,


The basic problem I see with this article is the
lack of clear definitions of the terms used. The
article speaks of "the parameters of time and
aspect"  and of "imperfective" and "perfective"
aspects. It is said that " In Hebrew yiqtol
refers to future contexts without specifying the
aspect, least of all imperfective." This implies
that each aspect has a meaning, and the meaning
of the imperfective aspect does not fit future
references.

But the meaning (definition) of the imperfective
aspect is not stated. Therefore, it is impossible
for the reader to understand the argument.  An
attempt to explain the perfective aspect is seen;
it is explained as "complete/whole." But what
does that mean?  An example with BW) is used. But
does not the *lexical* meaning of this verb refer
to a "complete/whole" situation? Please consider
the examples below. Examples 1) and 5) have past
reference, 3) and 4) have future reference, and
the reference of 3) is present completed. These
examples, both with YIQTOL  and QATAL, show that
the  "complete/whole" action expressed by BW)  is
a lexical property and not one of aspect.
***

I still do not really understand how your approach really works.
As regards your examples, I keep thinking that Yiqtol is basically 
imperfective and Qatal perfective.

1) Genesis 6:4 "the sons of god came (YIQTOL)  to the daughters of man."
**
Continously true hence imperfective.
A.
***


2) Genesis 16:8 " from where have you come (QATAL)?"
***
Done once hence perfective.
A.
***

3) Jeremiah 51:3 "destroyers will come (YIQTOL)  to her."
***
Apparently a curse hence meant to be Continously true hence imperfective.
A.
***

4) Ezekiel 21:30 "your day will come
(QATAL)."
***
A promise hence meant to happen once.
A.
***


5) Ezekiel 20:1 "some of the elders of Israel came (QATAL)."
***
Done once hence perfective.
A.
***


We often see in discussions of Hebrew verbs that
aspect is confused with lexical meaning or
Aktionsart. Therefore, it is important to give
clear definitions of the terms. Aspect is given
different definitions in the literature, often
psychological definitions. A person discussing
aspect chooses one of the definitions, and if
other persons use different definitions,
confusion arise. The only way to avoid this
"random choice of an aspect definition" of which
I am aware, is to use the basic parameters
"deictic center," "reference time" and "event
time." By using these univesal parameters, one
needs not to start with a particular aspect
definition, but the meaning of each aspect will
emerge after one has worked with the text for a
long period.
***
These "universal parameters" as you say seem to be drawn from a mix of 
Enunciative, Semantic and Grammatical theories.
I see that mix as descriptively troublesome.

Arnaud Fournet