From: Steven Cox (scox@Mail.Sparkice.COM.CN)
Date: Tue Sep 22 1998 - 07:38:18 EDT
Hello Dan
It would be nice if Greek could magically solve all problems but
somehow I don't think you will find the answer to this issue in
grammar. Yes, in some languages such as Polish (e.g. in the
masculine accusative plural if memory still serves) there is a
grammatical distinction beyond gender that can distinguish
between "animate" and "inanimate" nouns. But in Greek? Is there
any "animate" and "inanimate" distinction, or any other way to prove
"personality" by any grammatical means?? (open question)
Obviously one can show some kind of anthromorphic intention
on the part of the author by context - most commonly pairing of
inanimate nouns (e.g. hAMARTIA, QANATOS, SOFIA, SARX,
EPIQUMIA, ktl.) with anthromorphic verbs/qualifiers - but this is
not "grammar", just common style in many languages.
Regards
Steven
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