[B-Greek] Middle Voice and Linear A & B

Kevin Riley klriley at alphalink.com.au
Tue Aug 21 21:54:53 EDT 2007


I am not ignorant about Linear B, but I was under the impression that linear
B does not have any real literary value because it consists mostly of lists.
 It is not connected prose or poetry from which we can draw conclusions
about how its grammar works.  Would the middle voice actually turn up in the
Linear B tablets often enough to see how it works, and if there is any
development towards a passive use?
 
Kevin Riley
 
-------Original Message------- 
 
From: Bryant J. Williams III 
Date: 22/08/2007 11:24:39 AM 
 
Dear Carl, 
 
I passed on to a colleague of mine your comments to Kevin Riley (along with
his 
Questions and comments) about the Middle Voice. See Below his comments. 
 
"Interesting comments from Carl Conrad. One does wonder, however, whether
the 
Average Greek speaker in the classical era thought in terms of 
"subject-affectedness" when he heard a middle voice form used! 
Kevin Riley wrote, "... Until we discover pre-Homeric literature I guess it 
Will remain conjecture." Actually, there are over 6,000 tablets written in 
Linear B, which is a pre-Homeric form of Greek. Linear A, of course, has not

Yet been deciphered, and it is arguable whether or not it is actually Greek.

But if it turns out to be genuine Greek we would have an even earlier 
Testimony to the origins of the Greek language. " 
 
My question is "Has there been anything written or discussion of Linear B 
Tablets to help with the history of the Greek language especially with
regard to 
The Middle Voice, etc.? 
 
Rev. Bryant J. Williams III 
 
 



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