Deictic Centers (was Perfect Tense...)

Mark Wilson emory2oo2 at hotmail.com
Wed Jan 17 14:44:57 EST 2001



Cindy:

You wrote:

------
>It is very probable that I didn't understand all of what he was saying. But
>my issue was with what I perceived to be his definition of the 
>'contextually
>developed deictic center' as NOT being related to the time of speaking to
>those present. This is what I'm addressing, and it rather redefines deictic
>center, which I think should be avoided.
>
>I think that he might be saying that the 'contextually developed deictic
>center' could be relative to the time of hearing (reception perhaps) and
>believing. But I'm not entirely confident that I understand.
-----

You are suppose to be able to read my mind and know exactly what
I mean  :o )

Here is what I was thinking when I posited the question: Maybe there is not 
ONE deictic center (DC) in a sentence or discourse section. Perhaps, the 
writers contextually developed a "sub" DC, and then made a statement using 
that sub DC as a reference point. In other words, is it necessary to have 
ONE, MAIN, FIXED DC per discourse section, or even in a sentence?

So, I guess I am thinking that writers can develop multiple deictic centers 
within ONE discourse section or sentence. And deictic centers can be 
implied.

That is why I did not personally see a temporal dilemma in Jn. 5:24. BTW, 
what is the deictic center of Jn. 5:24 that seems to make the Perfect tense 
"out of place?"

Even the "futuristic" Perfects, to me at least, have some stated or implied 
DC to which the Perfect functions in its regular sense: i.e., Past action 
stated or implied plus emphasis on Present State.

Wallace lists these Futuristic Perfects:

Rom. 13:8
hO AGAPWN TON hETERON NOMON PEPLHRWKEN

By loving one's brother IN THE PAST, s/he currently is in a state of having 
fulfilled the law. Note that this fulfillment is contingent upon his/her 
PAST ACTION.

Jas. 2:10
hOSTIS GAR hOLON TON NOMON THRHSHi PTAISHi DE EN hENI GEGONEN PANTWN ENOCOS

Here, this person enters into a state of guilt based on his or her PAST 

action of stumbling. In fact, the current state this individual enters makes 
no sense apart from PAST behavior.

1 John 2:5
hOS D' AN THRHi AUTOU TON LOGON ALHQWS EN TOUTWi hH AGAPH TOU QEOU 
TETELEIWTAI

Love is in its perfected state based on the PAST behavior of keeping his 
word.


So, even in these "futuristic" Perfects, there is a stated or implied DC. 
And in every instance, a past action and a present state are in view, but to 
some DC, whether stated or implied, and whether the DC is the MAIN one or 
some "sub" DC.

Bear in mind that I am still relatively new to Greek, so my questions may 
need a little messaging.

Thanks,

Mark Wilson




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