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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] Lexemes and meanings

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  • From: K Randolph <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>
  • To: Jerry Shepherd <jshepherd53 AT gmail.com>
  • Cc: b-hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Lexemes and meanings
  • Date: Sun, 5 May 2013 03:15:32 -0700

Jerry and Ruth:

We have been through this song and dance before, and it’s a song and dance because it’s exactly the same—a statement taken out of context and then being argued against.

On Sat, May 4, 2013 at 5:32 PM, Jerry Shepherd <jshepherd53 AT gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Ruth,
 
Thank your very much for this.  You are absolutely correct.  Would you care to comment on the other part of that repeated formulation, that each lexeme has a single "unique" meaning?  That seems to me to be nonsense as well.  Or it at least needs to be explained as to the level of uniqueness.

When one looks at the actions referred to by a lexeme, other than homonyms where two or more words from different roots have converged in form, words generally have one meaning at any one point in time. The semantic range of meaning can range from wide, applicable to many contexts, to narrow.

Te context referred to above is that exceptions were allowed for, thereby mooting your objection. But what is the number of such exceptions? 0.1% of total vocabulary?

In Biblical Hebrew we talk about homographs rather than homonyms, because we have no evidence that they were pronounced the same. The lack of vowels leaves us guessing as to their pronunciations.
 
This was a valuable contribution.  Don't fall back into lurking mode!
 
Blessings,
 
Jerry Shepherd
Taylor Seminary
Edmonton, Alberta


Karl W. Randolph.



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