[B-Greek] Contrastive KAI and DE (Was: The use of GAR in Mark 9:49)

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Fri Sep 18 02:34:09 EDT 2009


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carl Conrad" <cwconrad2 at mac.com>
To: "Samuel Cripps" <crippssamuel at yahoo.com>
Cc: <B-Greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: 18. september 2009 01:33
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] The use of GAR in Mark 9:49

<snip>
> When, on page 671, he [Wallace]
> actually gets to the "contrastive" category, he is NOT speaking of
> GAR; rather he lists ALLA, PLHN, KAI, DE:
> =====
> C.  Contrastive Conjunctions (adversative) [but, rather, however]
> 1.  Definition
> This use suggests a contrast or opposing thought to the idea to which
> it is connected. It is often translated but, rather, yet, though, or
> however. Major contrastive conjunctions include: ἀλλά, πλήν,
> καί (if indicated by context), δέ (if indicated by context).
> =====

The parentheses after KAI and DE are interesting.
In my view, the idea that KAI is contrastive is caused by the fact that a 
translation will occasionally use a contrastive conjunction where the original 
has KAI. I would prefer to say that KAI indicates "continuation and addition" 
(sometimes an unexpected addition), and any contrast is inferred from the 
content of the two clauses that are joined by KAI. The function of a discourse 
particle like KAI should be studied from within the language itself, and should 
not depend on how it might be translated. Wallace's treatment is traditional and 
does not seem to have incorporated newer insights from discourse linguistics.

DE indicates a "shift" of some kind, and that is closer to the concept of 
contrast. However, DE has a wide range of functions under the general heading 
"shift", and it is context that can specify what we call a contrast.

Iver Larsen 




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