Biblical Hebrew lexicology : a cognitive linguistic perspective
Abstract
Hebrew (=BH) and other Semitic languages, one seldom comes
across explicit definitions of the term “lexicography”. An
exception is O’Connor (2002). According to him,
lexicography seeks to guide and describe the production
of books that people actually use. ... Three tasks are basic
to lexicography... These are (a) delimitation of the
material studies (What is this a? lexicon of?), (b) the
structural segmentation of the material studies (What are
the working units of the lexicon?), and (c) the
delimitation and arrangement of relevant information
(What is the lexicon going to provide the user with
concerning each of the working units?).
What I do find lacking, even in O’Connor’s thorough overview of
Biblical Hebrew lexicons, as well as the earlier influential works of
James Barr (1973, 1992, 1993, 1994), the “Introduction” to the
new lexicon by Clines et al. (1993:14-29), Lübbe’s range of
publications on Biblical Hebrew lexicography (1990, 1993, 1994,
2002, 2003), Muraoka (1995 and 1998), Emerton (1997) and De
Blois (2000, 2002a and 2002b), is any reference or even the
recognition of significant advances in the field of theoretical
lexicography. Names of the pioneers in this field of study – like
Zgusta and Wiegand – are nowhere to be found. It is beyond the perspectives from theoretical lexicography for Biblical Hebrew
lexicography. But even a cursory consideration of the insights
gained in this field of study suggests that it can assist BH scholars
in the use of principled criteria for the delimitation and structuring
of information in BH dictionaries in terms of the purpose a
particular lexicon is supposed to fulfil (Imbayarwo 2003).
Description
The original publication is only available in print
Keywords
Hebrew language -- Lexicology, Hebrew language -- Grammar, Bible. Old Testament -- Language, style
Citation
Van Der Merwe, C. H. J. 2006. Biblical Hebrew lexicology: a cognitive linguistic perspective. Kleine Untersuchungen zur Sprache des Alten Testaments und seiner Umwelt 6, 87-112.