Greek Indicative Verbs in the Christian Palestinian Aramaic Gospels: Translation Technique and the Aramaic Verbal System

219 Pages·2013·2.16 MB·English

by  Tarsee Li

Greek Indicative Verbs in the
Christian Palestinian Aramaic
Gospels
Perspectives on Linguistics and Ancient
Languages
3
Series Editor
Terry Falla
Editorial Board
Aaron Michael Butts
J. K. Aitken
Wido van Peursen
Daniel King
Perspectives on Linguistics and Ancient Languages (PLAL) focuses
on the theory and practice of ancient-language lexicography and
subjects relating to it. Contemporary approaches to
ancient-language lexicography in an age of digital technologies are
linked to the study of modern linguistics and to virtually every
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peer-reviewed essays, monographs, and reference works that have
relevance to the ever-increasing reaches of ancient-language
lexicography and that allow a better view of the linguistic universe
in which every particle and galaxy are interrelated.
Greek Indicative Verbs in the
Christian Palestinian Aramaic
Gospels
Translation Technique and the Aramaic Verbal
System
Tarsee Li
9
34
2013
Gorgias Press LLC, 954 River Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
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Copyright © 2 0 1 3 by Gorgias Press LLC
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2013 ܗ 9
ISBN 978-1-61143-895-6 ISSN 2165-2600
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication
Data
Li, Tarsee.
Greek indicative verbs in the Christian
Palestinian Aramaic gospels :
translation technique and the Aramaic verbal
system / By Tarsee Li.
pages cm. -- (Perspectives on
Linguistics and Ancient Languages
; 3)
1. Aramaic language--Grammar. 2. Greek
language, Biblical--Verb. 3.
Greek language, Biblical--Grammar,
Comparative--Aramaic. 4. Translating
and interpreting. 5. Bible. N.T.--Language,
style. I. Title.
PJ5242.L5 2013
492’.356--dc23
2013018574
Printed in the United States of America
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents ..................................................................................... v
Preface ....................................................................................................... xi
Acknowledgments ................................................................................. xiii
1. Introduction .......................................................................................... 1
1.1. Terminology .............................................................................. 2
1.2. Textual Basis ........................................................................... 10
1.3. Methodology ........................................................................... 12
2. The CPA Translation of the Greek Imperfect Indicative ........... 15
2.1. Translation of Regular Greek Progressive Imperfects ..... 16
2.1.1. Translated by CPA ܐܘܗ + Participle .............................. 17
2.1.2. Translated by CPA Passive Participles ............................ 19
2.1.3. Translated by CPA ܐܘܗ + Verbal Adjective ................. 19
2.1.4. An Ambiguous Instance .................................................... 20
2.1.5. Instances with Textual Variants or Interference ............ 20
2.2. Translation of Regular Greek Non-Progressive
Imperfects .............................................................................. 21
2.2.1. Stative Continuous Imperfect ........................................... 22
2.2.1.1. Translated by CPA ܐܘܗ + Participle ........................... 22
2.2.1.2. Translated by CPA Participles ....................................... 23
2.2.1.3. An Ambiguous Instance ................................................. 23
2.2.1.4. Instances Requiring Additional Comment .................. 23
2.2.1.5. An Instance with Textual Variants ............................... 24
2.2.2. Habitual Imperfect ............................................................. 24
2.2.2.1. Translated by CPA ܐܘܗ + Participle ........................... 24
2.2.2.2. Translated by CPA Participles ....................................... 25
2.2.2.3. Translated by CPA Perfects ........................................... 25
2.2.2.4. Ambiguous Instances ...................................................... 26
2.2.2.5. An Instance with Textual Variants ............................... 26
2.2.3. Inceptive Imperfect ............................................................ 27
2.2.3.1. Translated by CPA ܐܘܗ + Participle ........................... 27
2.2.3.2. An Instance with Textual Variants ............................... 27
v
vi GREEK INDICATIVE VERBS IN THE CPA GOSPELS
2.2.4. Tendential Imperfect .......................................................... 28
2.2.4.1. Translated by CPA ܐܘܗ + Participle ........................... 28
2.2.4.2. Instances with Textual Variants .................................... 28
2.3. Translation of Special Types of Greek Imperfects ........... 28
2.3.1. Periphrastic Imperfect ........................................................ 29
2.3.1.1. Progressive Periphrastic Imperfects ............................. 29
2.3.1.2. Non-Progressive Periphrastic Imperfects .................... 30
2.3.2. Imperfect Indicative of εἰμί as a Simple Verb .............. 30
2.3.2.1. εἰμί with a Noun Phrase Predicate ............................... 31
2.3.2.2. εἰμί with an Adjectival Predicate .................................. 33
2.3.2.3. εἰμί with an Adverbial Predicate .................................. 34
2.3.2.4. εἰμί with a Prepositional Phrase Predicate .................. 34
2.3.2.5. εἰμί in Possessive Expressions ...................................... 35
2.3.3. Imperfect Indicative of ἔχω Expressing Possession .... 35
2.3.4. Imperfect Indicative of Verbs That Frequently
Introduce Direct Speech ..................................................... 36
2.4. Non-Active Instances in Greek and CPA .......................... 38
2.4.1. Deponent Verbs .................................................................. 38
2.4.2. Non-Deponent Non-Active Verbs .................................. 41
2.4.3. Active Verbs Translated as Non-Active in CPA ........... 42
2.5. Summary .................................................................................. 43
3. The CPA Translation of the Greek Present Indicative ................ 45
3.1. Translation of True Greek Presents ................................... 48
3.1.1. Translated by CPA Pronoun + Participle ....................... 48
3.1.2. Translated by CPA Participles .......................................... 51
3.1.3. Translated by CPA Passive Participles ............................ 52
3.1.4. Translated by CPA Imperfects ......................................... 53
3.1.5. Translated by CPA Pronoun + Verbal Adjective .......... 53
3.1.6. Translated by CPA Nominal Expressions ...................... 54
3.1.7. Instances with Textual Variants ....................................... 55
3.2. Translation of Greek Historical Presents ........................... 56
3.2.1. Translated by CPA Perfects .............................................. 57
3.2.2. Translated by CPA Pronoun + Participle ....................... 58
3.2.3. Translated by CPA Participles .......................................... 58
3.2.4. Ambivalent Instances ......................................................... 59
3.2.5. Translated by CPA ܐܘܗ + Participle .............................. 60
3.2.6. Translated by CPA ܐܘܗ + Verbal Adjective ................. 61
3.2.7. Instances with Textual Variants ....................................... 61
3.2.8. An Additional Instance ...................................................... 62
3.3. Translation of Greek Futuristic Presents ........................... 62
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
3.3.1. Translated by CPA Pronoun + Participle ....................... 63
3.3.2. Translated by CPA Participles .......................................... 63
3.3.3. Translated by CPA Imperfects ......................................... 64
3.3.4. Instances with Textual Variants ....................................... 64
3.4. Translation of Special Types of Greek Presents ............... 66
3.4.1. Present Indicative in Indirect Discourse ......................... 66
3.4.2. Present Indicative of Past Actions Still in Progress ...... 67
3.4.3. Periphrastic Present ............................................................ 68
3.4.4. Present Indicative of εἰμί as a Simple Verb .................. 69
3.4.4.1. εἰμί with a Noun Phrase Predicate ............................... 70
3.4.4.2. εἰμί with an Adjectival Predicate .................................. 73
3.4.4.3. εἰμί with an Adverbial Predicate .................................. 76
3.4.4.4. εἰμί with a Prepositional Phrase Predicate .................. 77
3.4.4.5. εἰμί without an Expressed Predicate ........................... 78
3.4.4.6. εἰμί in Special Expressions ............................................ 79
3.4.5. Present Indicative of ἔχω Expressing Possession ........ 80
3.4.6. The Verbs δεῖ and ἔξεστιν .............................................. 81
3.4.7. The Verb ἥκω ..................................................................... 82
3.4.8. Present Indicative of Verbs That Frequently
Introduce Direct Speech ..................................................... 82
3.5. Non-Active Instances in Greek and CPA .......................... 86
3.5.1. Deponent Verbs .................................................................. 86
3.5.2. Non-Deponent Non-Active Verbs .................................. 89
3.5.3. Active Verbs Translated as Non-Active in CPA ........... 92
3.6. Summary .................................................................................. 93
4. The CPA Translation of the Greek Future Indicative ................. 97
4.1. Translation of Regular Future Indicatives ......................... 97
4.1.1. Translated by CPA Imperfects ......................................... 97
4.1.2. Translated by CPA Pronoun + Participle ....................... 98
4.1.3. Translated by CPA Participles .......................................... 99
4.1.4. Translated by CPA Imperfect of ܐܘܗ + Participle .... 100
4.1.5. Translated by CPA Passive Participles .......................... 101
4.1.6. Instances with Textual Variants ..................................... 101
4.2. Translation of Special Types of Greek Futures .............. 102
4.2.1. Periphrastic Future ........................................................... 103
4.2.2. Future Verb Phrases with μέλλω .................................. 103
4.2.3. Future Indicative of εἰμί as a Simple Verb .................. 105
4.2.3.1. εἰμί with a Noun Phrase Predicate ............................. 105
4.2.3.2. εἰμί with an Adjectival Predicate ................................ 106
4.2.3.3. εἰμί with an Adverbial Predicate ................................ 107
viii GREEK INDICATIVE VERBS IN THE CPA GOSPELS
4.2.3.4. εἰμί with a Prepositional Phrase Predicate ................ 108
4.2.3.5. εἰμί without an Expressed Predicate ......................... 108
4.2.3.6. εἰμί in Possessive Expressions .................................... 109
4.3. Non-Active Instances in Greek and CPA ........................ 109
4.3.1. Deponent Verbs ................................................................ 109
4.3.2. Non-Deponent Non-Active Verbs ................................ 111
4.3.3. Active Verbs Translated as Non-Active in CPA ......... 112
4.4. Summary ................................................................................ 113
5. The CPA Translation of the Greek Aorist Indicative ................ 115
5.1. Translation of Regular Greek Aorist Indicatives ............ 115
5.1.1. Translated by CPA Perfects ............................................ 115
5.1.2. Translated by CPA ܐܘܗ + Participle ............................ 119
5.1.3. Translated by CPA Passive Participles .......................... 120
5.1.4. Translated by CPA Pronoun + Participle ..................... 120
5.1.5. Translated by CPA Participles ........................................ 121
5.1.6. An Ambiguous Instance .................................................. 122
5.1.7. Translated by CPA Imperfects ....................................... 123
5.1.8. Instances that Involve Textual Variants ........................ 124
5.2. Translation of Special Types of Greek Aorists ............... 125
5.2.1. Aorist Indicative of ἔχω Expressing Possession ......... 125
5.2.2. Aorist Indicative of Verbs That Frequently
Introduce Direct Speech ................................................... 126
5.3. Non-Active Instances in Greek and CPA ........................ 128
5.3.1. Deponent Verbs ................................................................ 128
5.3.2. Non-Deponent Non-Active Verbs ................................ 130
5.3.3. Active Verbs Translated as Non-Active in CPA ......... 131
5.4. Summary ................................................................................ 131
6. The CPA Translation of the Greek Perfect Indicative .............. 133
6.1. Translation of Regular Greek Perfect Indicatives .......... 133
6.1.1. Active Perfect Indicatives ................................................ 134
6.1.1.1. Translated by CPA Perfects ......................................... 134
6.1.1.2. Ambiguous Instances .................................................... 134
6.1.2. Non-Active Perfect Indicatives ...................................... 136
6.1.2.1. Translated by CPA Passive Participles ....................... 136
6.1.2.2. Translated by CPA ܐܘܗ and T-Stem Participle ....... 138
6.1.2.3. An Instance Involving a CPA Addition ..................... 138
6.2. Translation of Special Types of Greek Perfects .............. 139
6.2.1. Perfect Indicative Verbs That Express the Present
Tense .................................................................................... 139
TABLE OF CONTENTS ix
6.2.2. Periphrastic Perfect........................................................... 140
6.3. Summary ................................................................................ 141
7. The CPA Translation of the Greek Pluperfect Indicative ......... 143
7.1. Translation of Regular Greek Pluperfect Indicatives ..... 143
7.1.1. Translated by CPA Perfects ............................................ 143
7.1.2. Translated by CPA ܐܘܗ + Participle ............................ 144
7.2. Translation of Special Types of Greek Pluperfects ........ 145
7.2.1. Pluperfect Indicative Verbs That Express the Simple
Past Tense ............................................................................ 145
7.2.2. Periphrastic Pluperfect ..................................................... 147
7.3. The CPA Translation of the Greek Periphrastic Future
Perfect .................................................................................. 149
7.4. Summary ................................................................................ 150
8. Translation Technique and CPA Verbal Function ..................... 151
8.1. Observations on Translation Technique .......................... 151
8.2. Observations on the CPA Verbal System ........................ 154
8.2.1. The CPA Perfect ............................................................... 154
8.2.2. The CPA Imperfect .......................................................... 156
8.2.3. The CPA Participles ......................................................... 159
8.2.3.1. ܐܘܗ + Participle ............................................................ 160
8.2.3.2. (Pronoun +) Participle .................................................. 162
8.2.4. The CPA Passive Participle ............................................. 171
8.2.5. The CPA qaṭṭil Verbal Adjective..................................... 176
8.2.6. CPA Conditional Clauses ................................................ 178
8.2.6.1. Counterfactual Conditions ........................................... 179
8.2.6.2. Factual conditions .......................................................... 181
8.3. Observations on CPA Nominal Clauses and Clauses
with ܐܘܗ .............................................................................. 183
8.4. Observations on Textual Issues ......................................... 187
9. Conclusion ......................................................................................... 189
Bibliography .......................................................................................... 191
Index of Passages Cited ....................................................................... 201