dem. pronouns w/ multiple antecedents
Roe
d.roe at t-online.de
Mon May 1 13:54:51 EDT 2000
Dear B-Greekers,
(Re: my posts "Gender & number: GOMORRA, SODOMA")
I recently demonstrated my lacking understanding of gender agreement for
demonstrative pronouns having multiple antecedents of differing genders.
My assumption had been that the demonstrative pronoun would be masculine
plural -- as masculine plural is used to indicate a group whose members
have heterogeneous genders. (E.g., Rev 7:14 OhUTOI [masc.] EISIN OhI
ERCOMENOI EK THS QLIYEWS THS MEGALHS...)
However, I am coming to the conclusion that when the demonstrative
pronoun refers to multiple mixed-gender antecedents, the pronoun stands
in neuter plural, as a few examples show:
Gal 5:17 TO DE PNEUMA [neut] KATA THS SARKOS [fem], TAUTA [neut] GAR
ALLHLOIS ANTIKEITAI...
Acts 7:49 hO OURANOS [m] MOI QRONOS, hH DE GH [f] hUPOPODION TWN PODWN
MOU... OUCI hH CEIR MOU EPOIHSEN TAUTA [n] PANTA
John 6:9 ESTIN PAIDARION hWDE hOS ECEI PENTE ARTOUS [m] KRIQINOUS KAI
DUO OYARIA [n], ALLA TAUTA [n] TI ESTIN EIS TOSOUTOUS
Is my conclusion that demonstrative pronouns having multiple antecedents
of differing genders are as a rule (always?) neuter? If so, what is the
situation with Hebrews 11:13? -- KATA PISTIN APEQANON OhUTOI [masc.]
PANTES... Because Sarah is mentioned as one of those, I presume that
OhUTOI could not refer to each of those listed in the above verses as
multiple specific antecedents, as in the other examples above (for I
would then expect neuter pl. - TAUTA), but that it instead refers
generally to the mixed-gender group.
Where am I still erring? (Besides perhaps posting a question below the
assumed Greek level for forum participants...)
Thanks for any help, and have a great week!
David
(Half of whose posts are rightly labelled 'off topic'... with the other
half wrongly not...)
D. W. Roe
Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
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