Periodic Reporting for period 1 - POSTURE (Posture and bodily movements in the Bible and biblical religions)
Reporting period: 2022-06-01 to 2024-07-31
POSTURE investigates the theme of bodily attitudes, postures and movements within one of the most important pieces of cultural heritage, i.e. the Hebrew Bible. Furthermore, it explores the interpretation, transmission and transformation of this theme within cultural products (ancient biblical translations and subsequent exegetical traditions) that, either directly or indirectly, depend on the Bible.
POSTURE intersects two scientific fields, i.e. the semantics of Biblical Hebrew/Aramaic (BH/BA) and the anthropology of the biblical world and related contexts. From a linguistic point of view, verbs of posture and motion show several interesting idiomatic and metaphorical usages, being used to express also abstract concepts and grammatical aspects. From a socio-anthropological point of view, posture and body language can express real or assumed power relationships and hierarchies. They can serve as “externalizers” of status, gender, age, and physical weakness. Self-positioning and patterns of movement serve to establish, express, and maintain group identity. Moving towards a person is also a special kind of social act, indicating the desire to interact or to obtain something (e.g. information, protection, friendship, help), while maintaining a distance may indicate hostility, self-protection, respect, or dominance over others. Specific body movements are associated with honourable behaviour toward an elder or an authority, whereas intentional transgressions of official etiquette are sign of open contrast and provocation. The combination of semantic and anthropological investigations represents the innovation of POSTURE: exploring the semantics of posture and motion verbs in the Hebrew Bible from the social, anthropological and interactional perspectives will allow to rethink the idea of body in this context. Furthermore, the study of the reception of biblical “postures” in different cultural products (translations and exegetical traditions) will shed light on historical and intercultural processes in Antiquity and Late Antiquity.
POSTURE intersects two scientific fields, i.e. the semantics of Biblical Hebrew/Aramaic (BH/BA) and the anthropology of the biblical world and related contexts. From a linguistic point of view, verbs of posture and motion show several interesting idiomatic and metaphorical usages, being used to express also abstract concepts and grammatical aspects. From a socio-anthropological point of view, posture and body language can express real or assumed power relationships and hierarchies. They can serve as “externalizers” of status, gender, age, and physical weakness. Self-positioning and patterns of movement serve to establish, express, and maintain group identity. Moving towards a person is also a special kind of social act, indicating the desire to interact or to obtain something (e.g. information, protection, friendship, help), while maintaining a distance may indicate hostility, self-protection, respect, or dominance over others. Specific body movements are associated with honourable behaviour toward an elder or an authority, whereas intentional transgressions of official etiquette are sign of open contrast and provocation. The combination of semantic and anthropological investigations represents the innovation of POSTURE: exploring the semantics of posture and motion verbs in the Hebrew Bible from the social, anthropological and interactional perspectives will allow to rethink the idea of body in this context. Furthermore, the study of the reception of biblical “postures” in different cultural products (translations and exegetical traditions) will shed light on historical and intercultural processes in Antiquity and Late Antiquity.
So far, I focused on the study of the semantics of motion and posture verbs in Biblical Hebrew and cognate languages.
First, I delved into the discipline of semantics, acquiring its theoretical foundations and methodologies. Subsequently, I focused on the semantics of motion and posture verbs, adopting L. Talmy's model for my analysis. Afterwards, I selected some basic and very recurring posture and motion verbs from the Hebrew Bible, and studied their occurrences.
In particular, I carried out a comprehensive study of the Hebrew verbal root y-sh-b ("to sit / to be seated"). The result is a full description of its polysemy, distinguishing between basic meanings and various semantic extensions. The semantic reasons behind such polysemy have been deeply investigated and the effects of each meaning on the syntactic usage of the verb have been identified. The results obtained, together with the method developed and implemented, constitute replicable elements for the study of other posture verbs and, similarly, of other motion verbs in Biblical Hebrew.
Moreover, the organization of an international conference on this topic allowed me to explore the subject within a broader context, such as the languages and literatures of the Ancient Near East (Akkadian, Sumerian, Hittite, Elamite, Aramaic, etc.), the ancient versions (Greek, Latin, Syriac and Coptic translations of the Bible) and later commentaries and confessional interpretations (early Christian and Jewish exegetical works).
First, I delved into the discipline of semantics, acquiring its theoretical foundations and methodologies. Subsequently, I focused on the semantics of motion and posture verbs, adopting L. Talmy's model for my analysis. Afterwards, I selected some basic and very recurring posture and motion verbs from the Hebrew Bible, and studied their occurrences.
In particular, I carried out a comprehensive study of the Hebrew verbal root y-sh-b ("to sit / to be seated"). The result is a full description of its polysemy, distinguishing between basic meanings and various semantic extensions. The semantic reasons behind such polysemy have been deeply investigated and the effects of each meaning on the syntactic usage of the verb have been identified. The results obtained, together with the method developed and implemented, constitute replicable elements for the study of other posture verbs and, similarly, of other motion verbs in Biblical Hebrew.
Moreover, the organization of an international conference on this topic allowed me to explore the subject within a broader context, such as the languages and literatures of the Ancient Near East (Akkadian, Sumerian, Hittite, Elamite, Aramaic, etc.), the ancient versions (Greek, Latin, Syriac and Coptic translations of the Bible) and later commentaries and confessional interpretations (early Christian and Jewish exegetical works).
Research on motion and posture verbs in Biblical Hebrew had not yet been based on purely linguistic criteria, involving semantics and syntax in particular.
To date, we only know these verbs from lexicographical entries in dictionaries. Some studies deal with the polysemy of some of them but limit themselves to describing the meanings they convey in different contexts of use. However, a general theory of such verbs in Hebrew is still lacking.
With this research, a unitary model is being created and outlined, which can account for the operation of these verbs. The ambition is to gain an understanding of the mechanisms of the Hebrew language with regard to the description of motion and posture, such as to improve the interpretation of Biblical texts. This will have an impact in particular on the work of Biblical scholars and exegetes. Moreover, it may be of assistance to preachers in imparting explanations of the Bible based on a more accurate knowledge of the language and the text.
To date, we only know these verbs from lexicographical entries in dictionaries. Some studies deal with the polysemy of some of them but limit themselves to describing the meanings they convey in different contexts of use. However, a general theory of such verbs in Hebrew is still lacking.
With this research, a unitary model is being created and outlined, which can account for the operation of these verbs. The ambition is to gain an understanding of the mechanisms of the Hebrew language with regard to the description of motion and posture, such as to improve the interpretation of Biblical texts. This will have an impact in particular on the work of Biblical scholars and exegetes. Moreover, it may be of assistance to preachers in imparting explanations of the Bible based on a more accurate knowledge of the language and the text.