Dear Prof. Niccacci,
Are there other instances of
time phrases beginning with B-<time word> which are separated from the
main clause to which they refer by waw? This structure would seem very
odd, as the waw is usually a clause divider but in such a case it
would not be, or else the time phrase would be left on its own with no
sentence to be linked to. < ...>
There are no other cases of the structure B-<time phrase> W-<main clause>.
PK: To put this another way, the examples you quote are all consistent
with an analysis of Genesis 1:1 including a null complementiser (e.g.
perhaps a missing 'ASHER) as follows:
{time phrase {preposition B-}
{noun phrase {construct noun RE'SHIT}
{noun phrase {complementiser 0}
{sentence {verb BARA'}
{...}}}}}
where {...} is 'ELOHIM 'ET-HASHSHAMAYIM WE'ET HA'ARETS. On this
analysis, the whole verse is a time phrase, and so there should be no
waw separating it from the following clause. Also the embedded
sentence is QATAL first, not X-QATAL, for BERE'SHIT is not part of it.
I wonder if you can comment on whether in general pairs of X-QATAL
clauses joined by waw should be taken as simultaneous, sequential or
what? < ... >
Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.