> >> Ex 8:14 is conative because the priests *tried to* bring forth gnats
> >> none of your examples above are conative.
Unless there is some use of "conative" that I am not aware of, I have to
agree with Randall that none of the examples qualify. Conative speech, as I
understand R. Jakobson's description of it, is speech whose function is to
get the hearer to do something. "The priests tried to bring forth gnats" is
referential; "Bring forth gnats!" would be conative. But I'm at a loss for
what to call the use of the imperfect that you are describing--hope somebody
can come up with it!
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Dr. Frederick W. Knobloch
Department of Religion
La Salle University
1900 West Olney Ave.
Phila., PA 19141-1199