Postclassical Greek Prepositions and Conceptual Metaphor: Cognitive Semantic Analysis and Biblical Interpretation

The Cognitive Linguistic approach of prototype theory explains the meanings of a preposition as a semantic network of related senses that radially extend from a primary, spatial sense. This approach is applied to describe select postclassical Greek prepositions and consider their exegetical and lexicographical implications, particularly in the New Testament.

Format: Hardback
Length: 319 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: De Gruyter

The traditional semantic description of Ancient Greek prepositions has faced significant challenges in synthesizing the diverse and seemingly arbitrary uses into a coherent and comprehensive framework. Conventional approaches have often resulted in a disparate and sometimes overlapping list of senses, failing to provide a comprehensive understanding of these prepositions' meanings. In contrast, the Cognitive Linguistic approach of prototype theory offers a promising perspective on the study of prepositions. According to this theory, the meanings of a preposition can be better explained as a semantic network of related senses that radially extend from a primary, spatial sense. These radial extensions arise from contextual factors that influence the metaphorical representation of the spatial scene being profiled.

Building upon the descriptions provided by Bortone (2009) and Luraghi (2009), linguists, biblical scholars, and Greek lexicographers have applied these developments to offer more in-depth descriptions of select postclassical Greek prepositions. They consider the exegetical and lexicographical implications of these findings, aiming to provide a more linguistically informed understanding of prepositional semantics, particularly with a focus on the exegetical implications of choice among seemingly similar prepositions in Greek and the challenges of potentially mismatched translation into English.

This volume is of particular interest to those studying or researching the Greek of the New Testament, as it seeks to provide a more linguistically informed description of prepositional semantics, particularly with a focus on the exegetical implications of choice among seemingly similar prepositions in Greek and the challenges of potentially mismatched translation into English. By exploring the cognitive and linguistic aspects of prepositions, this volume aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the Greek language and its significance in biblical studies.

Weight: 718g
Dimension: 177 x 251 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783110774047