Sentence conjunctions in the Gospel of Matthew : kappaalphai, deltaepsilon, tauotauepsilon, gammaalpharho, oalphanu and asyndeton in narrative discourse
Kalphai, deltaepsilon, Tote, gammaalphap, ouv and asyndeton constitute a system of sentence conjunctions in the narrative framework of Matthew's Gospel, forming networks with other linguistic systems such as constituent order, thematization, verbal tense-form, and lexical choice. Using a database of the Gospel of Matthew developed for this research, relative frequencies of sentence conjunctions are quantitatively described and frequencies of collocations with other syntactical and lexical features in narrative sentences are discussed. This study argues that sentence conjunctions convey procedural rather than conceptual meaning, providing processing instructions rather than prepositional content and guiding the audience to construct and modify mental representations in discourse processing. Kai signals unmarked continuity (the unmarked condition in narrative). Kai tends to collocate with verb-subject constituent order, especially with a verb in thematic (first) position in the sentence. deltaepsilon is a signal of low- to midlevel discontinuity, commonly paired with a change in participant or a temporal shift. deltaepsilon tends to collocate with subject-verb constituent order, especially with a thematic subject.
Black, Stephanie L.
Philosophy
Sentence conjunctions in the Gospel of Matthew : kappaalphai, deltaepsilon, tauotauepsilon, gammaalpharho, oalphanu and asyndeton in narrative discourse. Kalphai, deltaepsilon, Tote, gammaalphap, ouv and asyndeton constitute a system of sentence conjunctions in the narrative framework of Matthew's Gospel, forming networks with other linguistic systems such as constituent order, thematization, verbal tense-form, and lexical choice. Using a database of the Gospel of Matthew developed for this research, relative frequencies of sentence conjunctions are quantitatively described and frequencies of collocations with other syntactical and lexical features in narrative sentences are discussed. This study argues that sentence conjunctions convey procedural rather than conceptual meaning, providing processing instructions rather than prepositional content and guiding the audience to construct and modify mental representations in discourse processing. Kai signals unmarked continuity (the unmarked condition in narrative). Kai tends to collocate with verb-subject constituent order, especially with a verb in thematic (first) position in the sentence. deltaepsilon is a signal of low- to midlevel discontinuity, commonly paired with a change in participant or a temporal shift. deltaepsilon tends to collocate with subject-verb constituent order, especially with a thematic subject.
sentence conjunction gospel_matthew narrative_discourse constitute system sentence conjunction narrative framework matthew gospel form network linguistic system constituent order verbal tense form lexical_choice using database gospel_matthew develop relative frequency sentence conjunction quantitatively described frequency collocation syntactical lexical feature narrative sentence discuss study argue sentence conjunction convey procedural rather conceptual meaning provide process instruction rather prepositional content guide audience construct modify mental_representation discourse_processing signal unmarked continuity unmarked condition narrative tend verb subject constituent order especially verb thematic first position sentence signal low discontinuity commonly pair change participant temporal shift tend subject_verb constituent order especially thematic subject