[B-Greek] Semantic Range of Prepositions
Yancy Smith
yancywsmith at sbcglobal.net
Wed Mar 24 14:55:38 EDT 2010
Prepositions are so much fun. My Georgian professor used to say, they are
the most difficult part of any language and in Georgian they didn't have
any, only post-positions. (But they function in the same way, sort of).
So, you might say the factors can be summed up as categories of analysis:
(1) Functional category in syntax: they are the heads of prepositional
phrases
(2) They can also be viewed in semantic relation to a structure that preceds
(say, a verb) or follows or in which the preposition is embedded (like a
noun phrase).
(3) The preposition can also be analyzed lexically. As a lexical category,
however, they impose both a categorical (structure level) and a semantic
selection (semantic restriction level). Prepositions also assign thematic
roles and have semantic content but a lot of people feel the fuzziness comes
from the fact that the semantic content is not very specific, i.e.,
underspecified. So we talk about the "basic idea" of a preposition but have
plenty of apparent exceptions to the rule of the basic idea. But unlike
verbs, nouns and adjectives they don't morph. That makes them flexible but
fuzzy. So we get some overlap in semantics.
Multilingual situations (say, the influence of Semitic language) would
affect especially the semantics and maybe the structure of their use.
Another category would be the whole problem of idiomatic and metphorical
phrases. So, when we say here in Fort Worth, "You are in a pickle," the
basic special idea of "in" goes out the window, so to speak.
The effect of and on "context" (whatever that is, but I would guess it might
include relevant pragmatics) is a whole 'nuther ball of wax, as we say in
Texas.
-----Original Message-----
From: b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Richard Lindeman
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 1:29 PM
To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] Semantic Range of Prepositions
Right, I have only suggested a listing of factors.
And my only question at this point is whether I have correctly identified
the four key factors that exert the greatest influence upon one's
interpretation of Greek prepositions and if I have stated them clearly and
succinctly enough to be useful for my continued studies.
Thanks!
Rich Lindeman
Yancy Smith
Yancy W. Smith, PhD
World Bible Translation Center
4028 Daley Ave., Suite 201
Fort Worth, TX 76180
p 817-595-1664
f 817580-7013
yancy at wbtc.org
Be kinder than necessary for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of
battle.
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