[B-Greek] SIKELOS OMFAKIZETAI What kind of middle?

Mark Lightman lightmanmark at yahoo.com
Tue Jan 4 12:05:05 EST 2011


Thanks, Carl and Stephen.

I think I understand the proverb better now.  To produce sour grapes for 
oneself, for one's own interest, is comic paradox and it is not surprising that 
the middle is found only here.  The proverb in the form quoted in LSJ has an 
ellipsis, κλεψας KLEYAS or the like, so the Sicilian, having stolen something 
worthless, finds himself with sour grapes, which he himself produced, but for 
naught.

One is tempted to call this the comic middle.   The only other example which 
comes to mind is the cuckold, of whom it is said, even though he is  male,  
γαμεῖται  GAMEITAI.  








 Mark L



FWSFOROS MARKOS




________________________________
From: Stephen Carlson <stemmatic at gmail.com>
To: Mark Lightman <lightmanmark at yahoo.com>
Cc: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Sat, January 1, 2011 11:08:34 AM
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] SIKELOS OMFAKIZETAI What kind of middle?

On Sat, Jan 1, 2011 at 11:37 AM, Mark Lightman <lightmanmark at yahoo.com> wrote:
> LSJ defines ὀμφακίζω (OMFAKIZW) "to be unripe, properly of grapes" and refers 
>to
> Isaiah 18:5 where the active is found.  Then it goes on to say "in Mid.,
> Σικελὸς  ὀμφακίζεται the Sicilian steals sour grapes, proverb. of one who will
> steal anything worthless, Epich. 163 Ahr., cf. Aristaen. 2.7 Erasm. Adag. p.
> 240."
>
> I don't get how the middle is working here.  If the active means to produce 
>sour
> grapes, how does the middle come to mean steal sour grapes?  I understand that
> this is a free translation, but what is going on here?  Is this some special
> kind of a middle that I am unfamiliar with?  Are there other examples?

According to TLG, this verb occurs in the MP only here in this
proverb, which is cited multiple times and explained as stealing
something worthless (whence the explanation in LSJ).

I'd view it as a middle: "the Sicilian sours," presumably because he
stole sour grapes and ate them, leaving a sour taste in his mouth.
The Sicilian is experiencing the sourness of the grapes, so I'd
consider this a middle of perception (per Allan's classification) like
γεύομαι GEUOMAI ("I taste").  The LSJ's proposed gloss of "steals
sours grapes" comes from the explanation of the proverb, rather than
anything inherent in the verb or its morphology.

Stephen
--
Stephen C. Carlson
Graduate Program in Religion
Duke University



      


More information about the B-Greek mailing list