Journal of Semitic Studies - current issue

Wechselwirkung Von Vokalen Und Gutturalen Im Semitischen Unter Dem Einfluss Anderer Sprachen: Die Beispiele Des Akkadischen Und Hebraischen

Keetman, J. — 2009-03-16

In this article it is argued that the sound shifts (*ai >) e > i and pharyngeal + a > e > e (both long and short) from Imperial Akkadian to Old Babylonian prove the existence of two vowel qualities of e in Imperial Akkadian. This may well be explained if we regard the second sound shift as the shift of the pressing of the pharynx from a consonant to a vowel, probably under Sumerian influence, resulting in a vowel near a, like German ä, which may have existed in Sumerian. While in Akkadian some consonants where lost but left an imprint on the vowels, in Hebrew auxiliary vowels evolved which sustained the pronunciation of nearly the same consonants. While Akkadian made a compromise, Hebrew resisted when its daily use faded or was even reconstructed in some communities in antiquity.

The Development of the Semitic Definite Article: A Syntactic Approach

Pat-El, N. — 2009-03-16

This paper aims at explaining the development of the Semitic definite article through an examination of its attested syntactical features. The paper will try to show that the original function of the definite article was not to mark definiteness, that it was first attached to the attribute, not the noun, and that only later was it transferred to the noun and interpreted as an article.

A Proposal to Read the Legend of a Seal-Amulet from Deir Rifa, Egypt as an Early West Semitic Alphabetic Inscription

Hamilton, G. J. — 2009-03-16

The legend of a seal-amulet, UC 51354, from Deir Rifa, Egypt remains unclassified. Here the case is made that it is written in Proto-Canaanite alphabetic script and reads as a short West Semitic text indicating the name and title of its owner.

Theme and Variation in Psalm 111: Phrase and Foot in Generative-Metrical Perspective

Decaen, V. — 2009-03-16

This programmatic paper approaches the metre of biblical poetry as a problem in generative metrics. Recalling the earlier proposal of Kurylowicz (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 Kurylowicz'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.

Word Order and Information Structure in Ruth and Jonah: A Generative-Typological Analysis

Holmstedt, R. D. — 2009-03-16

The relationship between syntax and information structure is an increasingly popular subject of research within Biblical Hebrew studies. However, there exist two asymmetries within current approaches taken as a whole: first, the only theoretical linguistic frameworks employed are situated somewhere within the functional approach to linguistics (in contrast with formal, and specifically, generative approaches); second, a Verb-Subject typological classification for Biblical Hebrew is assumed without empirical justification. Yet, the relationship between syntax and semantics, on the one hand, and pragmatics, on the other, is primarily unidirectional; in other words, pragmatics necessarily accesses the syntactic and semantic features of a text, but not vice versa. It stands to reason, then, that any model of information structure can only be as accurate as the syntactic and semantic model upon which it builds. This study presents a typological and generative linguistic analysis of the data in Ruth and Jonah, an Subject-Verb classificiation for Biblical Hebrew and an Subject-Verb based model of information structure.

Notes Sur Les Inscriptions Neo-Puniques De Henchir Medeina (Althiburos)

Bron, F. — 2009-03-16

Nouvelle étude de l'inscription néo-punique de Henchir Medeina = Althiburos (KAI 159), suivie de notes sur la bilingue latine et néopunique provenant du même site (KAI 160).

The Modality of Sarik in Tannaitic Hebrew

Novick, T. — 2009-03-16

The Paper argues that the word sarîk in tannaitic Hebrew does not, despite claims to the contrary, indicate permissibility. Analysis of apparent counter-examples illustrates the relationship between teleological necessity and weak deontic obligation.

Talmudic Aramaic Fauna Names: Murzema and Shaqitna

Raiskin, S. — 2009-03-16

This article investigates the origin and meaning of the Aramaic fauna names murzema and shaqitna, mentioned in the Babylonian Talmud (Tractate Hullin, p. 63a). Beginning with Akkadian and Sumerian, the article surveys various roots in Semitic languages, as well as Persian. Various commentaries on the Talmud as well as seveal more contemporary sources indicate that the two birds can both be identified as the Greater Flamingo. The final part of the article concludes that the murzema is indeed the Greater Flamingo, which was called by hunters in Arabic al-mirzam.

A Newly Reconstructed Karaite Work on Hebrew Grammar

Vidro, N. — 2009-03-16

Karaite grammatical thought originated in the ninth or even the eighth century CE. It had its roots in Masoretic literature and in the Arabic tradition of grammar. Scholarly study of Karaite grammatical tradition was given new impetus when the second Firkovitch Collection held in the National Library of Russia in St Petersburg and containing the majority of extant Karaite linguistic manuscripts became open to international scholars. Hitherto a number of Karaite grammatical treatises have been edited and the origins, periodization and characteristic features of this tradition studied. Yet further surviving treatises must be reconstructed and grammatical concepts investigated in more detail before a complete account of the Karaite linguistic teachings can be given.

This article reconstructs from unpublished manuscripts the Karaite grammatical treatise Kitab al-uqud fi tasarif al-lugha al-ibraniyya traditionally attributed to Abu al-Faraj Harun. The newly reconstructed text shows that Kitab al-uqud was not composed by Abu al-Faraj Harun and must presently be considered anonymous. Additionally, it provides evidence that the word uqud here is a previously unknown technical term meaning ‘derivational relations, rules’ rather than ‘pearl-strings’ as was suggested before.

The Introduction of Sergius of Reshlhringaina to Galen's Commentary on Hippocrates' On Nutriment

Bos, G., Langermann, Y. T. — 2009-03-16

MS New York, Jewish Theological Seminary of America 2761, preserves an Arabic version in Hebrew characters of Galen's commentary to Hippocrates On foods, including an introduction by Sergius of Reshaina, who translated the Greek into Syriac. Neither this translation nor the introduction had been known to exist. The introduction, which follows the canonical eight-fold formula of accessores ad auctores, is an extremely rich document for the history of commentaries to scientific texts. Sergius’ observations on the similarities in elusive writing between Hippocrates and Plato are particularly interesting.

Origin and Classification of the Ancient South Arabian Languages

Avanzini, A. — 2009-03-16

ASA (= Ancient South Arabian) documentation is testimony to a lengthy linguistic history in southern Arabia which predates the earliest written attestations. The hypothesis attributing the origin of ASA culture to immigration from the north is hard to endorse. The QAT (= Qatabanic) verb system and ASA more in general have strong parallels with the verb system of the north west of the second millennium. Just as the hypothesis of a recent wave of immigration to south Arabia is open to debate, so must the general idea of an ASA belonging to central Semitic as opposed to archaic southern Semitic be reexamined.

GARTH FOWDEN, Qusayr lhringAmra: Art and the Umayyad Elite in Late Antique Syria (The transformation of the classical heritage 36).

Marsham, A. — 2009-03-16

The Functions of the Preposition K- in Mehri

Rubin, A. D. — 2009-03-16

The Mehri preposition k- ‘with’ is used in a variety of idiomatic functions, some of which are not fully treated in, or are absent from, the exisiting grammatical sketches of Mehri. These include expressions of possession, of physical or environmental conditions, and of time. Not only is a description of these important for our understanding of Mehri, but some of these idioms, due to their peculiar nature, are also valuable for cross-linguistic study.

From Conventional to Personal, or: What Happened to Metaphor Under the Influence of Ideology - the Case of Gharhringib TulhringMa Farman

Peled-Shapira, H. — 2009-03-16

This article discusses metaphors derived from the animal world, and used to describe relations between intellectuals and the authorities in mid-twentieth-century Iraq, against the backdrop of the conservative and conformist use of metaphor in Classical Arabic literature. The topic in question is examined through the narrative works of the twentieth-century exiled Iraqi Communist writer Ghaib Tuma Farman (1927–90), who used animal metaphors as an artistic device through which he depicted himself as a Leftist intellectual persecuted by the government. The examples from Farman's own works are considered in light of the use which other twentieth-century Arab writers make of animal metaphors, and the artistic needs which the latter serve.

GEORGES BOHAS and MIHAI DAT, Une theorie de l'organisation du lexique des langues semitiques: matrices et etymons (Collection Langages). * PHILIPPE CASSUTO and PIERRE LARCHER (eds), La formation des mots dans les langues semitiques (Langues et langage 15).

Lipinski, E. — 2009-03-16

AARON D. RUBIN, Studies in Semitic Grammaticalization (Harvard Semitic Studies 57).

Stec, D. M — 2009-03-16

JEAN-JACQUES GLASSNER. Translated and edited by ZAINAB BAHRANI and MARC VAN DE MIEROOP, The Invention of Cuneiform: Writing in Sumer.

Taylor, J. — 2009-03-16

J.A. HALLORAN, Sumerian Lexicon: A Dictionary Guide to the Ancient Sumerian Language.

Postgate, J.N. — 2009-03-16

STEFANIE U. GULDE, Der Tod als Herrscher in Ugarit und Israel (Forschungen zum Alten Testament 2 Reihe 22).

Watson, W. G.E. — 2009-03-16

HALLVARD HAGELIA, The Tel Dan Inscription: A Critical Investigation of Recent Research on its Palaeography and Philology (Studia Semitica Upsalensia 22).

Becking, B. — 2009-03-16

ERNST JENNI, Studien zur Sprachwelt des Alten Testaments II.

Baasten, M. F.J. — 2009-03-16

ROBERT D. MILLER II S.F.O., Chieftains of the Highland Clans: a History of Israel in the 12th and 11th Centuries B.C. (The Bible in its World). * ANN E. KILLEBREW, Biblical Peoples and Ethnicity: an Archaeological Study of Egyptians, Canaanites, Philistines, and Early Israel 1300-1000 B.C.E. (Society of Biblical Literature Archaeology and Biblical Studies 9).

Van Der Steen, E. J. — 2009-03-16

BERNARD S. JACKSON, Wisdom Laws: A Study of the Mishpatim of Exodus 21:1- 22:16.

Stackert, J. — 2009-03-16

HILARY LIPKA, Sexual Transgression in the Hebrew Bible.

Williams, J. — 2009-03-16

KEVIN A. WILSON, The Campaign of Pharaoh Shoshenq I into Palestine. (Forschungen zum Alten Testament, 2. Reihe, 9).

Kitchen, K.A. — 2009-03-16

THOMAS B. DOZEMAN and KONRAD SCHMID (eds), A Farewell to the Yahwist? The Composition of the Pentateuch in Recent European Interpretation (Society of Biblical Literature Symposium Series 34).

Johnstone, W. — 2009-03-16

ALICE HUNT, Missing Priests: The Zadokites in Tradition and History (Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies 452).

Rooke, D. — 2009-03-16

LENA-SOFIA TIEMEYER, Priestly Rites and Prophetic Rage: Post-Exilic Prophetic Critique of the Priesthood (Forschungen zum Alten Testament 2. Reihe 19).

Rooke, D. — 2009-03-16

NICHOLAS P. LUNN, Word-Order Variation in Biblical Hebrew Poetry: Differentiating Pragmatics and Poetics (Paternoster Biblical Monographs).

Holmstedt, R. D. — 2009-03-16

D. GOODBLATT, Elements of Ancient Jewish Nationalism.

Mendels, D. — 2009-03-16

BEVERLY P. MORTENSEN, The Priesthood in Targum Pseudo-Jonathan: Renewing the Profession (Studies in Aramaic Interpretation of Scripture).

Lasair, S. A. — 2009-03-16

ALEXANDER SAMELY, Forms of Rabbinic Literature and Thought: An Introduction.

Stemberger, G. — 2009-03-16

EMANUELA TREVISAN SEMI, Jacques Faitlovitch and the Jews of Ethiopia.

Kaplan, S. — 2009-03-16

ALESSANDRO BAUSI e ALESSANDRO GORI, Tradizioni orientali del >. La prima recensione Araba e la versione Etiopica. Edizione critica e traduzione.

Knibb, M. A. — 2009-03-16

JOHN C. LAMOREAUX (translator), Theodore Abu Qurrah (Library of the Christian East 1).

Goddard, H. — 2009-03-16

PAUL STARKEY, Modern Arabic Literature.

Elad-Bouskila, A. — 2009-03-16

STEVEN E. FASSBERG and A. HURVITZ, (eds), Biblical Hebrew in its Northwest Semitic Setting: Typological and Historical Perspectives (Publication of the Institute for Advanced Studies 1, The Hebrew University Jerusalem).

Healey, J. F. — 2009-03-16

HELENE LOZACHMEUR, La Collection Clermont-Ganneau: ostraca, epigraphes sur jarre, etiquettes de bois (Memoires de l'Academie des Inscriptions et Belles-lettres 35).

Healey, J. F. — 2009-03-16

KAREL JONGELING, and ROBERT M. KERR, Late Punic Epigraphy: an Introduction to the Study of Neo-Punic and Latino-Punic Inscriptions.

Healey, J. F. — 2009-03-16

JEAN-CLAUDE HAELEWYCK, Grammaire comparee des langues semitiques: elements de phonetique, de morphologies et de syntaxe (Langues et cultures anciennes 7).

Healey, J. F. — 2009-03-16

SUSANNE SCHOLZ, Introducing the Women's Hebrew Bible (Introductions in Feminist Theory 13).

Rooke, D. — 2009-03-16