[B-Greek] "Crossing the Rubicon" (learning Greek NOT in English)

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Wed Jun 20 04:33:02 EDT 2007


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jonathan Robie" <jwrobie at mindspring.com>

<snip>
>
> Yes, I think that's easier with MEN ... DE than with DE alone. Naus and
> ship refer to the same thing, but what does DE refer to? Nothing that an
> English speaker has any experience with ....
>

Yes, there is no equivalent word in English for DE. But it is more helpful to think of descriptive 
meanings than trying to find equivalents in a another language. Many modern dictionaries give 
descriptive meanings rather than (or in addition to) glosses.
For instance, NAUS is described by L&N as "a larger ocean-going vessel." It has a fairly small area 
or meaning. Compare that to PLOION which is described as "any kind of boat, from small fishing boats 
as on Lake Galilee to large seagoing vessels". It has a large area of meaning, and it includes 
within its area of meaning the smaller area that NAUS occupies, at least in Hellenistic Greek. Both 
NAUS and PLOION can refer to what we call a ship, and that is why descriptions are more helpful than 
"equivalent glosses".

Concerning DE, the meaning is probably best described as "indicating a change or new aspect". (I am 
indebted to Randall Buth for this piece of wisdom.) This could be a change of theme, a change of 
speaker, a change of situation, a change from foreground to background or vice versa, a new aspect 
about what is being talked about or a contrast to what has just been said. The particulars depend on 
context, but the change idea is basic to the meaning and use of DE.

KAI indicates "continuation or addition" which again needs to be fleshed out in the various 
contexts.
So, what I am suggesting is not to think in terms of equivalent words like "but" or "and", but in 
terms of broader function and meaning.

GAR introduces "further explanation, support for or background information related to the 
foregoing". These particles can only be properly handled by a modern discourse analysis, and 
therefore L&N and all older lexicons are not particularly helpful.

OUN indicates "consequence/inference or continuation after a break". Moulton and Geden(1978) 
suggested 8 functions for OUN:

1. Inference (logical consequence)
2. Consequent command or exhortation
3. Consequent effect or response
4. Inferential question
5. Summary (a final inference, a conclusive statement)
6. Adversative
7. Continuation or resumption of narrative
8. Continuation of discussion

However, their number 6 is a mistake and should be deleted. In all the examples they cite for number 
6, it is something else in the context that carries the contrast.
So, we are down to seven different kinds of "consequense or continuation."
We also need to take into account idiosyncracies and preferred usage by different authors. For 
instance, the last two as they occur in the GNT are frequent in John, but never occur in Matthew or 
Mark. John is using OUN in a rather special way which needs a separate analysis.

Iver Larsen 




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