Thank you very much for your clear and well-documented treatment of
aspect in the recent thread!
If I remember correctly, you said somewhere during the long thread that
strings of qatals are sometimes used to narrate a story (forgive me if I
do not quote you). If I am wrong, and I would be happy to drop the
issue. Otherwise I confess that I am not familiar with this type of
string in a narrative. I do realize that narratives in direct speech
often begin with a qatal, but I am under the impression that they then
continue with wayyiqtol.
If I am remembering your statement correctly, can you point out a couple
of these strings in "first Temple" texts?
I have found, for example, 1 Sam 4:17 a string of four qatals in direct
speech, but I don't think the speaker is telling a story. I think he is
describing the state of affairs to Eli. Describing a state of affairs
is essentially expository rather than narrative. In expository
discourse I would expect to find noun sentences and X-qatal sentences
(which are a kind of noun sentence, I think).
I see that David uses a string of qatals (or weqatals) in 1 Sam
17:34-36. Traditionally, the string is considered to be repetitive
action in the past for which weqatal is a conventional choice. However,
In my book, I suggest that David is indeed telling a story (see
_Learning BH_ pp. 345-347). However, I suggest he is telling a story in
an unconventional way in a very special circumstance. Essentially, he
is telling a story using the conventions of expository discourse in
order to apply for a job. He is basically giving Saul his resume. I am
not ashamed for bringing such a literary consideration into a linguistic
discussion.
Anyway, can you point out a string or two? Thanks!
Regards,
Bryan
--
B.M. Rocine
Living Word Church
6101 Court St. Rd.
Syracuse, NY 13206
W: (315) 437-6744
[b-hebrew] David: strings of qatals,
B. M. Rocine, 03/08/2007