The Verbal System of the Aramaic of Daniel (Studies in the Aramaic Interpretation of Scripture)

217 Pages·2009·0.89 MB·English

by  Tarsee Li

The Verbal System
of the Aramaic of Daniel
Studies in the Aramaic
Interpretation of Scripture
Managing Editor
Paul V.M. Flesher
University of Wyoming
Editorial Board
Bruce Chilton

Bard College
Willem Smelik

University College, London
Johannes C. de Moor

Theological University, Kampen
Moshe Bernstein

Yeshiva University
Josep Ribera

University of Barcelona
VOLUME 8
The Verbal System
of the Aramaic of Daniel
An Explanation in the Context
of Grammaticalization
By
Tarsee Li
LEIDEN • BOSTON
2009
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Li, Tarsee.
The verbal system of the Aramaic of Daniel : an explanation in the context
of grammaticalization / by Tarsee Li.
p. cm. — (Studies in the Aramaic interpretation of Scripture, ISSN 1570-1336 ; v. 8)
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-90-04-17514-3 (hardback : alk. paper)
1. Aramaic language—Verb. 2. Aramaic language—Grammar. 3. Bible. O.T. Daniel.
Aramaic—Language, style. I. Title. II. Series.
PJ5219.L52 2009
492’.29—dc22
2009005876
ISSN 1570-1336
ISBN 978 90 04 17514 3
Copyright 2009 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Koninklijke Brill NV incorporates the imprints Brill, Hotei Publishing,
IDC Publishers, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers and VSP.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher.
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Fees are subject to change.
printed in the netherlands
To Alida:
te iubesc

CONTENTS
Preface and Acknowledgements ..................................................... xiii
List of Abbreviations .......................................................................... xv
Introduction ........................................................................................... 1
A. The Aim of the Present Study ............................................................................. 1
B. Grammaticalization .............................................................................................. 2
1. Unidirectionality .............................................................................................. 3
2. Layering and Persistence ................................................................................ 4
3. Reanalysis and Analysis/Rule Generalization ............................................. 5
4. Other Phenomena ............................................................................................. 5
5. Limitations of Grammaticalization ............................................................... 6
C. Previous Studies .................................................................................................... 7
D. Description of the Present Research .................................................................. 9
E. Some Presuppositions ......................................................................................... 12
F. Morphosyntax and Discourse Analysis/Textlinguistics ............................... 16
G. Issues of Date and Provenance .......................................................................... 17
H. Issues of Interpretation ..................................................................................... 19
The Suffix Conjugation ....................................................................... 20
A. Preliminary Discussion of Concepts and Issues ............................................. 20
B. Present Anterior/Resultative ............................................................................ 23
C. Past Anterior/Resultative .................................................................................. 30
D. Future Anterior/Resultative ............................................................................. 32
E. Simple Past ............................................................................................................ 32
F. Stative Suffix Conjugation Verbs ...................................................................... 33
G. Modality ................................................................................................................ 35
1. Hypothetical/Conditional ............................................................................. 35
2. Epistemic .......................................................................................................... 36
3. Evidential ......................................................................................................... 36
H. Summary .............................................................................................................. 38
The Active Participle ........................................................................... 39
A. Preliminary Discussion of Concepts and Issues ............................................. 39
B. Nominal Functions .............................................................................................. 43
C. The Active Participle in Formulaic Expressions ............................................ 43
D. Imperfective ......................................................................................................... 45
1. Past Progressive .............................................................................................. 45
VIII CONTENTS
2. Past Habitual or Iterative/Frequentative ...................................................48
3. Past Inceptive ..................................................................................................49
4. General Present ...............................................................................................50
5. Actual Present .................................................................................................51
6. Performative Present .....................................................................................51
7. Historical Present ...........................................................................................52
E. Non-Imperfective Functions that Overlap with the Prefix Conjugation ...55
F. Summary ...............................................................................................................57
The Non-Active Participles ................................................................ 58
A. Preliminary Discussion of Concepts and Issues .............................................58
B. The Passive Participle/Verbal Adjective .........................................................60
1. From Verbal Adjective to Resultative Participle .......................................61
2. Nominal Functions .........................................................................................66
2.1. Predicate Adjective ................................................................................66
2.2 Attributive ................................................................................................67
2.3. Substantival .............................................................................................67
2.4. Adjunct/Complement ............................................................................67
3. Verbal Functions .............................................................................................68
C. The T-Stem Participle .........................................................................................70
1. Passive/Reflexive Voice .................................................................................70
2. Imperfective ....................................................................................................72
3. Predicate Adjective .........................................................................................73
D. The Syntax of the Passive Participle and the T-Stem Participle
Contrasted ............................................................................................................74
E. Active Participles in Generalized Subject Constructions ..............................76
F. Summary ...............................................................................................................77
Participles with הוה or יתיא ................................................................ 79
A. Preliminary Discussion of Issues .......................................................................79
B. The Complex Verb Phrase הוה + Participle ........................................................80
1. Progressive .......................................................................................................80
2. Habitual or Iterative/Frequentative ...........................................................81
3. Inceptive ...........................................................................................................82
4. Future ................................................................................................................82
5. Modality ............................................................................................................82
C. The Complex Verb Phrase יתיא + Participle .......................................................83
D. The Complex Verb Phrase Participle + הוה ........................................................85
1. Progressive .......................................................................................................85
2. Reiteration and/or Other Functions............................................................86
E. The Relationship between הוה/יתיא + Participle and Participle + הוה .........89
CONTENTS IX
F. An Optional Grammatical Construction .......................................................... 91
G. The Passive Participle/Verbal Adjective in combination with הוה/יתיא ... 93
H. Summary .............................................................................................................. 96
The Prefix Conjugation ....................................................................... 98
A. Preliminary Discussion of Concepts and Issues ............................................. 98
B. Non-Modal Functions ......................................................................................... 99
1. Simple Future ................................................................................................ 100
2. General Present ............................................................................................. 101
3. Past Imperfective .......................................................................................... 103
C. Modality .............................................................................................................. 109
1. Agent-Oriented Modalities ......................................................................... 110
1.1. Obligation .............................................................................................. 111
1.2. Ability ..................................................................................................... 111
1.3. Root Possibility ..................................................................................... 111
2. Speaker-Oriented Modalities ...................................................................... 112
2.1. Affirmative Directives ......................................................................... 112
2.2. Prohibition ............................................................................................ 116
3. Epistemic Modalities .................................................................................... 117
3.1. Possibility .............................................................................................. 117
3.2. Inferred Certainty ................................................................................ 118
4. Subordinate/Subjunctive Modalities ........................................................ 118
4.1. Hypothetical/Conditional................................................................... 119
4.2. Temporal subordinate clauses ........................................................... 120
4.3. Complement .......................................................................................... 121
4.4. Purpose .................................................................................................. 122
4.5. Result ...................................................................................................... 124
D. Jussive .................................................................................................................. 125
E. The Prefix Conjugation Form of the Verb הוה .............................................. 126
F. Summary ............................................................................................................. 127
The Imperative ................................................................................... 129
A. Introductory Remarks ...................................................................................... 129
B. Command ............................................................................................................ 129
C. Permission .......................................................................................................... 129
D. Request ................................................................................................................ 130
E. Optative ............................................................................................................... 131
F. Summary ............................................................................................................. 131
The Infinitive ...................................................................................... 133
A. Preliminary Discussion of Concepts and Issues ........................................... 133
B. Nominal Functions ............................................................................................ 134