Re: Word order and emphasis in Acts 2:39
Posted: January 4th, 2013, 6:57 pm
While reading Josephus Antiquities 14.490 today I ran across an example of Focus+Contextualization/markedTopic + Verb.
παύεται δ᾿ οὕτως ἡ τοῦ Ἀσσαμωναίου ἀρχὴ μετὰ ἔτη ἑκατὸν εἰκοσιέξ.
οἶκος λαμπρὸς οὗτος ἦν καὶ διάσημος
"Thus ceases the Hasmonean rule after 126 years.
This (relating to larger context, 'Hasmonean family') was an illustrious and and conspicuous house/family."
While in principle the 'be' verb and pronoun subject 'this' do not make the best examples, they seemed to fit the example being discussed a few days ago of a (marked) Focal element followed by a (marked) Contextualizing Constituent (i.e., non-Focal, but marked by fronting) followed by the Verb.
What's wrong with 'be'? Frequency of pattern: it fronts its Subject as almost a knee-jerk reaction and loves to follow along after.
SteveR, I'm sure we've discussed this before and that you have some Greek examples somewhere of Foc Top Verb ... . (I do too, but I'm travelling.)
παύεται δ᾿ οὕτως ἡ τοῦ Ἀσσαμωναίου ἀρχὴ μετὰ ἔτη ἑκατὸν εἰκοσιέξ.
οἶκος λαμπρὸς οὗτος ἦν καὶ διάσημος
"Thus ceases the Hasmonean rule after 126 years.
This (relating to larger context, 'Hasmonean family') was an illustrious and and conspicuous house/family."
While in principle the 'be' verb and pronoun subject 'this' do not make the best examples, they seemed to fit the example being discussed a few days ago of a (marked) Focal element followed by a (marked) Contextualizing Constituent (i.e., non-Focal, but marked by fronting) followed by the Verb.
What's wrong with 'be'? Frequency of pattern: it fronts its Subject as almost a knee-jerk reaction and loves to follow along after.
SteveR, I'm sure we've discussed this before and that you have some Greek examples somewhere of Foc Top Verb ... . (I do too, but I'm travelling.)