Focus Structure in Biblical Hebrew: A Study of Word Order and Information Structure with Special Reference to Deuteronomy.

摘要

This thesis examines the word order of Biblical Hebrew from the perspective of InformationudStructure, specifically in the articulation of a theory of focus structure. To focus is to markudan item as informationally prominent. The thesis proposes thatud1) in Biblical Hebrew focus is expressed by word order and by pitch prominence;ud2) the clause-initial position is marked for focus for both nominal and verbal clauses;ud3) and Biblical Hebrew has three major clause types:ud(P represents predicate including verb; X represents an argument, a cover-ten-n forudnon-predicate elements. Capitals mark. focus indicated by word order and/or highudpitch. )uda) Px Predicate-Focus Structure adds new information preferably to an active orudaccessible referent( commenting);udb) Xp Argument-Focus Structure relates X with the missing argument of audpresupposed proposition (identification);udc) XP Clause-Focus Structure indicates that the clause has pragmatic implication(s)udother than commenting and identification. These implications includeud(information level): activation of inactive referents; introduction of a brand-newudreferent;ud(inter-clausal level): exclamation/proclamation, contrast of the whole proposition,udcircumstantial clause;ud(text-unit level): onset functions, background information, climax and closure; andudfinally parallel construction and list structure.udMost of these implications show non-sequentiality to or independence of theudpreceding texts informationally, temporally or logically.udThe thesis also explores the relationship between emphasis, intensification (loud voice),udcontrast, focus and word order. Emphasis is achieved through various means which includeudintensification (loud voice) and implicit contrast. Contrast is created not by fronting but onlyudby the presence of the contrastive members (either explicit or implicit). Contrast belongs toudcontextual implicatures not to syntax. Intensification belongs to prosody not to syntax. Onlyudfocused constituents are contrasted or intensified. Detection of intensification (loud voice) inudwritten texts is highly subjective.