Focus Construction With Ki ''Im in Biblical Hebrew

This study uses modern linguistic theory to analyze a frequently recurring syntactic phenomenon in the Hebrew Bible that has thus far resisted explanation: 真 真.
The combination of the two particles 真 and 真 produces a construction that is notoriously difficult to describe, analyze syntactically, and translate. Dictionaries of Biblical Hebrew offer a dizzying variety of translations for this construction, including "that if," "except," "unless," "but," "but only," and "surely," among other possibilities. In this book, Grace J. Park provides a new approach that strives for greater precision and consistency in translation. Park argues that 真 真 is used in three patterns: the "full focus" pattern, the "reduced focus" pattern, and the less common "non-focus" pattern. Her syntactic analysis of all 156 occurrences of the 真 真 construction in the Bible lends greater clarity to the contested passages.
Drawing on recent linguistic research into the typology of clausal nominalization as well as previous work on contrastive focus, this innovative project provides important new insight into the syntax of Biblical Hebrew. It will be especially valuable for scholars seeking to translate 真 真 more consistently and accurately.

About the author

Grace J. Park is Postdoctoral Researcher at the Freie Universität Berlin.

Summary

A discourse-analytical approach to contrastive focus in Biblical Hebrew, providing a systematic framework for interpreting numerous difficult passages in the Hebrew Bible.

Product details

• Authors: Grace Park, Grace J. Park, Grace J. (Lecturer) Park
• Publisher: Eisenbrauns publications
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.10.2023
• EAN: 9781646022465
• ISBN: 978-1-64602-246-5
• No. of pages: 248
• Series: Linguistic Studies in Ancient West Semitic
• Subjects: Education and learning > Miscellaneous; Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative linguistics; LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Grammar & Punctuation, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / Syntax, Grammar, syntax & morphology, Grammar, syntax and morphology, Hebrew