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Theme and Variation in Psalm 111: Phrase and Foot in Generative-Metrical Perspective1
University of Toronto
This programmatic paper approaches the metre of biblical poetry as a problem in generative metrics. Recalling the earlier proposal of Kury
owicz (1972, 1975), it is argued that the organizational principles of the Tiberian liturgical chant (syllable, foot, and, crucially, phonological phrase) are also the metrical principles of biblical poetry — or at least that of Job, Proverbs and a fair portion of the Psalms. When the musical transformations of the poetic accent system are taken into account, Psalm 111 conforms to Kuryowicz's 2+2 phrases per verse. However, the 2+2 analysis only scratches the surface: the distribution of foot-, word- and line-types in Psalm 111 is also regulated by prosodic principles.
1 A special word of thanks to Elan Dresher, to whom this paper is dedicated, and whose continued support and encouragement through the years have kept me working away at generative grammar and Tiberian Hebrew phonology (or as I prefer, ‘generative Masoretics’). It should be obvious that Dresher's seminal 1994 study is my constant inspiration throughout.
I must also recognize John Hobbins and his invaluable online resources, especially his detailed bibliographies and history of research (see http://ancienthebrewpoetry.typepad.com). He was quick with voluminous and insightful feedback on earlier drafts, and the study is many times better as a result. I am especially grateful for his pointing out those crucial footnotes in Dhorme's commentary on Job, and also for patiently explaining the details of Fokkelman's syllable counting.
Thanks also to Jim Price who, in addition to offering feedback on an earlier draft, generously supplied me with data for nesiga before silluq. Specific insights are noted in the relevant footnotes.
Of course, these gentlemen can in no way be held responsible for the views — let alone the errors — contained herein.
I should also thank an anonymous reviewer for helpful suggestions that have been incorporated in this final version, especially for alerting me to Loretz's count for Psalm 111.
Finally, my work is made possible in part through a generous grant from the nonprofit GRAMCORD Institute, dedicated to computer-assisted analysis of biblical languages (http://www.gramcord.org).