From: CEP7@aol.com
Date: Wed Jan 24 2001 - 16:49:59 EST
In a message dated 1/24/01 2:58:27 AM, alice-iver_larsen@wycliffe.org writes:
<< I am afraid you are putting the cart before the horse.
Linguistically speaking a genitive is a linguistic notion in many languages.
It
has the function of linking two nouns or nominal constructions together
without
them being arguments in a full proposition (predicate).
In descriptive linguistics we would often call such a thing an "associative
marker". Many languages have a specific word like "of" in English or a suffix
to
show that association. Other languages have a genitive (or construct) form
that
indicates that two nominal expressions are linked together. The exact nature
of
the association depends on the semantic content of the nominal expressions
linked together as well as other words in the sentence.
There is a long tradition in Greek grammar to invent numerous descriptive
names
for such associations. This is dangerous, because many people then wrongly
assume that we somehow have a host of different genitives with each their own
meaning. The nature of the association is not part of the genitive itself.
Some
of the names are helpful as a shorthand notation for a relationship or
association that one has deduced from the words linked together, but not more
than that.
It may be useful to give a name to a genitive, but that is the last thing you
do
after you have finished your interpretation of the sentence. >>
How can you finish the interpretation of a sentence if the interpretation
hangs on the use of a particular noun or verb? In this case you have to
survey the possibilities for the use of the genitive and determine which fits
best in the context, both micro- and macrocontext. The use of a particular
genitive depends on the context, but their are some guidelines in those uses.
Genitives with verbal head nouns are usually verbal genitives; what kind of
verbal genitive will be decided by the context. Nouns that modify PLHRHS and
other nouns of filling or fullness are usually genitives of content. You are
correct to an extent, but that does not invalidate the categories. The issue
is when does one make decisions about the use of he genitive, on the front
end or back end of interpretation.
Charles E. Powell, Ph.D.
(h) cep7@aol.com
(w) cpowell@dts.edu
(h) 972-231-4166
(w) 214-841-3763
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