Focus structure in Biblical Hebrew : a study of word order and information structure with special reference to Deuteronomy
This thesis examines the word order of Biblical Hebrew from the perspective of Information Structure, specifically in the articulation of a theory of focus structure. To focus is to mark an item as informationally prominent. The thesis proposes that 1) in Biblical Hebrew focus is expressed by word order and by pitch prominence; 2) the clause-initial position is marked for focus for both nominal and verbal clauses; 3) and Biblical Hebrew has three major clause types: (P represents predicate including verb; X represents an argument, a cover-ten-n for non-predicate elements. Capitals mark. focus indicated by word order and/or high pitch. ) a) Px Predicate-Focus Structure adds new information preferably to an active or accessible referent( commenting); b) Xp Argument-Focus Structure relates X with the missing argument of a presupposed proposition (identification); c) XP Clause-Focus Structure indicates that the clause has pragmatic implication(s) other than commenting and identification. These implications include (information level): activation of inactive referents; introduction of a brand-new referent; (inter-clausal level): exclamation/proclamation, contrast of the whole proposition, circumstantial clause;
Shimasaki, Katsuomi
BS The Bible
Focus structure in Biblical Hebrew : a study of word order and information structure with special reference to Deuteronomy. This thesis examines the word order of Biblical Hebrew from the perspective of Information Structure, specifically in the articulation of a theory of focus structure. To focus is to mark an item as informationally prominent. The thesis proposes that 1) in Biblical Hebrew focus is expressed by word order and by pitch prominence; 2) the clause-initial position is marked for focus for both nominal and verbal clauses; 3) and Biblical Hebrew has three major clause types: (P represents predicate including verb; X represents an argument, a cover-ten-n for non-predicate elements. Capitals mark. focus indicated by word order and/or high pitch. ) a) Px Predicate-Focus Structure adds new information preferably to an active or accessible referent( commenting); b) Xp Argument-Focus Structure relates X with the missing argument of a presupposed proposition (identification); c) XP Clause-Focus Structure indicates that the clause has pragmatic implication(s) other than commenting and identification. These implications include (information level): activation of inactive referents; introduction of a brand-new referent; (inter-clausal level): exclamation/proclamation, contrast of the whole proposition, circumstantial clause;
focus structure biblical_hebrew study word_order information_structure special_reference deuteronomy examines word_order biblical_hebrew perspective information_structure specifically articulation theory focus structure focus mark item prominent proposes biblical_hebrew focus express word_order pitch prominence clause initial_position mark focus nominal_verbal clause biblical_hebrew three_major clause type represent predicate include verb represent argument cover non predicate element mark focus indicate word_order and high pitch predicate focus structure add_new information active accessible referent comment argument focus structure relate miss argument presuppose proposition identification clause focus structure indicate clause pragmatic implication comment identification implication include information level activation inactive referent introduction brand new referent inter clausal level proclamation contrast whole proposition circumstantial clause