[B-Greek] IOUDAIOS and metonymy

Mike Sangrey msangrey at BlueFeltHat.org
Sat Jan 31 19:55:04 EST 2004


On Sat, 2004-01-31 at 14:40, Harold R. Holmyard III wrote:
<snip>
> 
> There are several things to be said for this interpretation of IOUDAIOI as
> "Judeans" (a gloss given by the UBS dictionary), while keeping in mind the
> idea of metonymy. 
<snip>

Just to simply underscore this point in a way that many on the list will
be able to identify with...

What does the word 'American' mean?  Does it PURELY mean "an American
citizen" or does it also include positive or negative connotations
depending on who is using it or who they are talking to?  Are there not
times when the word "American" really refers to our foreign policy (and
thus to our leadership)?  [These are rhetorical questions; not
discussion starters!]

It is certainly true that we must guard against "totality transfer";
however, I think sometimes we go too far and don't allow for denotative
AND connotative meaning to coexist simultaneously.  In some cases I
think the connotative meaning is kinda loud.  I think that is the case
here.  Admittedly, this becomes very difficult when dealing with a text
in a foreign language.  BGreek, being an ancient language, is especially
difficult.

I think sometimes we picture words as crystalline structures which, when
used in a give text, exhibit precise distinctions.  We think (or at
least it seems we appear to argue FOR this):  that we can draw a precise
circle around a usage and then claim that all the meaning in the
particular instance is within the circle and none slops over the
"boundaries."  Speakers and writers are just too creative to allow that
to be the rule.  And language certainly allows it (even encourages it).

Lastly, I'm not arguing for a "any word can mean whatever we want."  I'm
merely pointing out that words are sortta fuzzy with their edges rubber
banded to their centers.

-- 
Mike Sangrey
msangrey at BlueFeltHat.org
Landisburg, Pa.
                        "The first one last wins."
            "A net of highly cohesive details reveals the truth."




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