Topic, Focus and Foreground in Ancient Hebrew Narratives

by Jean-Marc Heimerdinger

This study breaks new ground in describing how various linguistic and pragmatic mechanisms affect both the form of the narrative clause and the arrangement of the grammatical elements. The various possible forms that a narrative clause can take are classified in terms of their 'topic-comment' and 'focus-presupposition', and it is argued that the way in which these are articulated dictates the word order in the clause. The outcome of the study demonstrates that the traditional binary distinction between foreground and background, based purely on verb forms, is inadequate. A new model is offered showing how foregrounding is achieved by exploiting cognitive structures or by using specific evaluative devices.

288 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1999

Reviews

[Josue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a must read for anyone interested in topic, focus, and foreground in Ancient Hebrew narratives. Author Heimerdinger challenges Longacre's views of foreground, which focuses on Wayyiqtols and NP + Qatals, etc. Instead, Heimerdinger argues that sentences, clauses, phrases, etc., are brought to the foreground by various means, and that one need not look to the grammar of Wayyiqtols to identify foreground.

Heimerdinger discuses Information Structure, speaker/hearer assumptions & expectations, word-order, and more!

The book is well written with great examples to support the arguments. The Hebrew font lacks vowel pointing, so be prepared to ride the bike without training wheels.