Verb position in future clauses in Biblical Hebrew

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In clauses with future meaning in biblical hebrew, a basically vso language, there are consistent functional differences between clauses with verb-initial word order and clauses with non-verb-initial word order. Quantitative study shows that verb-initial clauses are associated with future events that come about through cooperation between (some combination of) the speaker, the listener, and God, whereas non-verb-initial clauses are associated with future events that are the result of unilateral action. This is related to the finding of Givón (1977) that, in clauses with past time reference in Biblical Hebrew, verb-initial order is associated with the unmarked function of temporal sequencing and continuity of the narrative, whereas non-verb-initial order is associated with a break in sequencing and discontinuity. If We Take verb-initial Order as Generally associated With unmarked discourse functions, These data suggest that cooperation represents the unmarked expectation in dialogues about the future in the same way that sequencing represents the unmarked expectation in narratives about the past.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)289-309
Number of pages21
JournalLanguage Variation and Change
Volume4
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1992
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Language and Linguistics
  • Education
  • Linguistics and Language

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