From: Richard Lindeman (richlind@ix.netcom.com)
Date: Mon Mar 23 1998 - 14:01:36 EST
Well, this is still a rather tenuous bit of logic. But it has not been
shot down yet, so let me continue in this attempt to build a framework of
*contextual terminology* around our study of Greek linguistics.
Beyond the *fundamental contexts* which are necessary for any communication
to take place of: People, Thought,
and Language... in flow from left to right... now let us consider other
contexts.
We certainly have to consider the *universal contexts* which are at work in
our world. These are the contexts of Time, Activity, and Substance. Just
as the fundamental contexts of communication flow from left to right... it
is the same thing with these three universal contexts. Activity flows from
Time and Substance flows from Activity. For proof of this I ask you to look
at Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
It starts with time and then flows into activity and then flows into
substance. These are the universal contexts of living in this created
world. They are all around us and we can't get away from them... Time,
Activity, and Substance. If you don't accept Genesis 1:1, then let me
give you an illustration that you may accept. If the big-bang theory were
to hold true then this works essentially the very same way. Time flows
into Activity which flows into Substance.
These are the HUGE undercurrents of context. We might compare them to the
great ocean undercurrents. They are always there and they influence
everything that is happening on the surface of things whether we realize it
or not. The universal contexts of Time, Activity, and Substance give birth
to the smaller but important fundamental contexts of People, Thought, and
Language. Not only do they give birth to these lesser contexts, but they
also undergird them and they flow from them.
In linguistics we understand that verbs are mainly reactions to the context
of *Activity* and nouns are mainly reactions to the context of *Substance*.
But I believe that every single piece of linguistic terminology we use is
actually a reaction to these two sets of universal and fundamental contexts.
And my suggestion is that by charting the flows of context in various
streams and channels to our current linguistic terms might actually be
useful to help us understand our Greek linguistics better. Perhaps such an
exercise would enable us to better understand the inner workings of the
grammar which has been passed down to us. It might even help us see how our
various concepts of linguistics inter-relate with each other in trying to
manage the flows of context.
Blessings,
Rich Lindeman
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