[B-Greek] 2COR. 11:1 MOU & AFROSUNHS

Steve Runge srunge at logos.com
Mon Jan 4 17:37:00 EST 2010


Elizabeth,

Regarding your second question here are a few thoughts. The default strategy in most languages is to move from what is most known/accessible to what is least known/accessible. This is why we tell tales in this way:
	1. There once was a man named Carl.
	2. Carl lived in North Carolina.
	3. He knew a lot about Greek.
	4. In fact, IT WAS HIS JOB to teach Greek.
So by default, the new, focal information will tend to be places as near the end of the clause as the syntax allows, hence "Carl" in 1. and "North Carolina" in 2. I would say this is what we have in 2Cor 11:1 with AFROSUNHS. There is no special word order shift, just the most salient part of the clause as near the end as possible for default focus.

If you wanted to emphasize the new information, you would put it in the position least characteristic for it, exemplified in 4. by the "it" cleft construction. In the case of subjects and objects in Greek, this would be the clause-initial position. For verbs, this would be the clause-final position since finite verbs characteristically begin clauses. Keep in mind there are other pragmatic reasons for fronting something, e.g. "topicalization" to create what is typically called a contrastive topic. 

So I think I would agree with your position Elizabeth, sort of agreeing with Thrall only getting there by a different path. I do not think there is much hay to be made about AFROSUNHS since it is in its expected position.


-----Original Message-----
From: b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Elizabeth Kline
Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 2:17 PM
To: greek B-Greek
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] 2COR. 11:1 MOU & AFROSUNHS


On Jan 4, 2010, at 2:06 PM, Carl Conrad wrote:

> I confess in advance that my response here will be rather useless if 
> it requires taking into account arguments such as those you have 
> cited.

I suspect you are referring here to the second question, which is independent of the first.


> I'm inclined to
> think this word order is more colloquial and emotional than 
> rhetorical.
> I just take the text as I see it and it seems to me that MOU must in 
> both cases depend directly upon the verb: "put up with me" -- "be 
> patient with me."
> I rather think that AFROSUNHS is a second genitive with ANECESQE.
>
> "But you really ought to be patient with me a bit -- with my 
> foolishness; but do really be patient with me."


Thank you Carl,

I am inclined to agree with you and Alford. It seems like the second MOU gives us the pattern for judging the first MOU. I suspect, but don't know for sure, that Thrall and Meyer might be trying to analyze the first MOU and AFROSUNHS somewhat like a construct chain in biblical Hebrew.

Elizabeth Kline




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