[B-Greek] Ancient Greek Voice Forms

Mark Lightman lightmanmark at yahoo.com
Sat Apr 16 13:52:14 EDT 2011


<So, the question to ask with a Middle Voice subject-affected verb is...  Why 
did the writer want to draw our attention to the subject in this  particular 
instance?>

Hi, Eddie,

A Koine writer could write

ὁ πονηρος ποιεῖ την ανομιαν.  hO PONHROS POIEI THN ANOMIAN.  (cf 1 John 3:4)

or 

ὁ πονηρος εργαζεται την ανομιαν.  (ERGAZETAI)   (cf Mt. 7:23)

In the second case he is trying to convey that the wicked person is affected by 
the sin, that he is changed by the sin, or that the sin abounds to his 
interest.  The first guy may be making the same point, but he is not interested 
in making this explicit by using the marked form.

Very like a whale. 


 Mark L
Φωσφορος


FWSFOROS MARKOS




________________________________
From: Eddie Mishoe <edmishoe at yahoo.com>
To: Mark Lightman <lightmanmark at yahoo.com>
Cc: B-Greek B-Greek <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sat, April 16, 2011 11:22:24 AM
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] Ancient Greek Voice Forms


Mark,

That you are asking this question leads me to think that you may be struggling 
[who isn't] with the Greek composer (whether orally or in writing) who is 
"portraying" the action as subject-affected/focused regardless of how the action 
did in fact take place. In some sense, the Greek writer is forced to make such a 
decision time after time, to the extent that it must have gotten somewhat 
bothersome. And if you ask me, a Greek WRITER uses this technique far more 
consciously and with greater genius than someone communicating at the speed of 
thinking-talking. 


So, the question to ask with a Middle Voice subject-affected verb is... Why did 
the writer want to draw our attention to the subject in this particular 
instance?

Eddie Mishoe

--- On Fri, 4/15/11, Mark Lightman <lightmanmark at yahoo.com> wrote:


>From: Mark Lightman <lightmanmark at yahoo.com>
>Subject: Re: [B-Greek] Ancient Greek Voice Forms
>To: "Carl Conrad" <cwconrad2 at mac.com>
>Cc: "B-Greek B-Greek" <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
>Date: Friday, April 15, 2011, 10:29 PM
>
>
>What are some verbs that do NOT participate in subject-affectedness.  What would 
>
>a sentence look like where the subject is NOT involved in the action?
>
>Mark L
>
> 


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