Grounded Hebrew semantics: A new inductive method for linguistic meaning with special focus on the Hebrew terms me`im, yarek, and bet&dotbelow;en.

摘要

The Grounded Hebrew Semantics (GHS) method developed in this dissertation utilizes concepts and theories from linguistic semantics in order to analyze the sense meanings of certain Biblical Hebrew words (lexemes): me`im, yarek, and beten. Several relevant linguistic and semantic issues are introduced and discussed in chapter 1. The GHS method is presented in detail in chapter 2. The analysis is primarily inductive. Each context (co-text) is systematically examined for co-textual clues to the sense meaning of a lexeme. These clues are gathered together like an archeologist would gather artifacts, and then the data is organized into components of meaning. The method is grounded because it allows the data itself to lead the way to meaning. The components of sense meaning are described using prime words adopted from the natural semantic metalanguage in order to eliminate as much as possible the cultural presuppositions that are reflected in the English language.; Three versions of the GHS method are illustrated in this work: (1) the complete GHS analysis which delineates the sense meaning of the lexeme me`im [chapters 3 and 6]; (2) the detailed modified version which examines the lexemes yarek and beten [chapters 4 and 5]; and (3) the brief version which is used to explicate the sense meanings of various lexemes found in the co-textual clues.; The GHS analysis supplements other methods used to determine the meaning of Biblical Hebrew words, such as cognate studies and tradition. Some of the potential benefits of the GHS method are that it can identify errors in major translations, demonstrate particular nuances of sense meaning, and aid in the interpretation of biblical text.