Verbum Tip 4bb: Facet: Discourse analysis

MJ. Smith

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Facet: Discourse analysis

The next group of facets deal with discourse grammar:

• Propositional outlines
  
• Hi-definition resources
  
• Discourse analysis
  

Blog examples of use:

• Hey Bro: HiDef Mondays | Steve Runge
• Honor Where Honor Is Due: HiDef Mondays | Steve Runge
• Summer Reading Challenge 3: HiDef Mondays | Steve Runge
• HiDef Mondays: Summer Reading Challenge 2 | Steven Runge
• HiDef Mondays: The importance of also, too | Steven Runge
• HiDef Mondays: Animated High Definition Commentary | Matt Wilson
• HiDef Mondays: Something a Little Different | Steven Runge
• HiDef Mondays: The Other Disciple | Steve Runge
• HIDef Mondays: Comparing the Lord of the Sabbath Statements | Steve Runge
• HiDef Mondays: Discourse Grammar and Logos | Matt Wilson
• HiDef Mondays: Some Synoptic Comparison | Steve Runge
• HiDef Mondays: Backgrounding in Gal 2:16 | Steve Runge
• HiDef Mondays: All about Participles 5: Participles That Elaborate | Steve Runge
• HiDef Mondays: All about Participles 4: Backgrounding Action-the Sequel | Steve Runge
• HiDef Mondays: All about Participles 3: Participles as Verbs: Part 1 Backgrounding action within a clause | Steve Runge
• HiDef Mondays: All about Participles 2: Participles as Adjectives | Steve Runge
• HiDef Mondays: All about Participles | Steve Runge

I am not a huge fan of discourse analysis, despite it being a useful tool in the toolbox. Why?

a)       I do not believe one can effectively use tagging that you cannot comfortably tag yourself

b)       I believe that any new tool must be able to answer “what can I learn about the text from this tool that I am not learning already from another tool?”

In short, if discourse analysis is a familiar tool, use it. If you have no tools that cover the same area, learn discourse analysis. If you already have satisfactory tools, don’t feel obligated but rather, follow your personal interests.

First, I recommend reading “Argument diagram: Trace the Logical argument by arcing, bracketing, or phrasing” in Naselli, Andrew David. 2017. How to Understand and Apply the New Testament: Twelve Steps from Exegesis to Theology. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing. While these are not my first choice of tools, they are solid tools that many of us are comfortable with. The DIY approach has the advantage of letting you choose your own sense of what constitutes a “proposition.”

Second, if you lack formal training in Discourse Analysis, I recommend reading Porter, Stanley E., and Jeffrey T. Reed. Discourse Analysis and the New Testament: Approaches and Results. Vol. 170. Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement Series. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1999.

Third, think of the Faithlife Discourse Analysis as having this overall structure:

1. Highlighting devices

1.1.    Forward-pointing devices

1.2.    Thematic highlighting

1. Word-order analysis

2.1.    Emphasis

2.2.    Frames of reference

2.3.    Outline annotations

Dataset

• DB:SD-DISCOURSE-GNT DISCOURSE-GNT.lbssd
• DB:SD-DISCOURSE-GNT-SBL DISCOURSE-GNT-SBL.lbssd
• DB:SD-DISCOURSE-HOT DISCOURSE-HOT.lbssd

Documentation

• Runge, Steven E. 2010. Discourse Grammar of the Greek New Testament: A Practical Introduction for Teaching and Exegesis. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
• Runge, Steven E. 2008. The Lexham Discourse Greek New Testament: Glossary. Lexham Press.
• Runge, Steven, and Joshua Westbury, eds. 2012. The Lexham Discourse Hebrew Bible: Glossary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Data

• <LDGNT = name>
• <LDHB = name>

Filters

Verbum has built in filters for Discourse Analysis with many filter settings available via a toggle choice. Only the Outline section of tags is not available for individual settings.

1. Select Visual Filters icon
2. Select Resource filters
3. Select Discourse features (Greek or Hebrew)
4. Select desired elements

Hebrew		NT Greek
Filter settings	Glossary	Filter settings	Glossary
Propositions		Propositions
Point (Clause Level)	Forward-Pointing Devices: Point-Counterpoint	Point (Clause Level)	Forward-pointing devices: Point-Counterpoint Sets: Point (Clause Level)
Counter Point (Clause Level)	Forward-Pointing Devices: Point-Counterpoint	Counter Point (Clause Level)	Forward-pointing devices: Point-Counterpoint Sets: Counterpoint (Clause Level)
Point (Paragraph Level)	Forward-Pointing Devices: Point-Counterpoint	Point (Paragraph Level)	Forward-pointing devices: Point-Counterpoint Sets: Point (Paragraph Level)
Counter Point (Paragraph Level)	Forward-Pointing Devices: Point-Counterpoint	Counter Point (Paragraph Level)	Forward-pointing devices: Point-Counterpoint Sets: Counterpoint (Paragraph Level)
Forward-pointing Reference	Forward-Pointing Devices: Reference-Target	Forward-pointing Reference	Forward-pointing devices: Forward-pointing Reference and Target: Forward-pointing reference
Forward-pointing Target	Forward-Pointing Devices: Reference-Target	Forward-pointing Target	Forward-pointing devices: Forward-pointing Reference and Target: Forward-pointing Target
Meta-comment	Forward-Pointing Devices: Metacomments	Meta-comment	Forward-pointing devices: Meta-comment
Attention-getter	Forward-Pointing Devices: Attention-getters	Attention-getter	Forward-pointing devices: Attention-getter
Redundant Quotative Frame	Forward-Pointing Devices: Redundant Quotative Frames	Redundant Quotative Frame	Forward-pointing devices: Redundant Quotative Frame
-	-	Historical Present	Forward-pointing devices: Historical Present
Tail-head Linkage	Forward-Pointing Devices: Tail-Head Linkage	Tail-head Linkage	Forward-pointing devices: Tail-Head Linkage
Overspecification	Thematic Highlighting: Overspecification	Overspecification	Thematic Highlighting: Overspecification
Right-dislocation	Thematic Highlighting: Right-Dislocation	Right-dislocation	Thematic Highlighting: Right-Dislocation
Thematic Address	Thematic Highlighting: Thematic Address	Thematic Address	Thematic Highlighting: Thematic Address
Thematic Addition	Thematic Highlighting: Thematic Addition	Thematic Addition	Thematic Highlighting: Thematic Addition
Near Demonstrative	Thematic Highlighting: Near and Far Distinctions: Near Distinction	Near Demonstrative	Thematic Highlighting: Near and Far Distinctions: Near Distinction
Far Demonstrative	Thematic Highlighting: Near and Far Distinctions: Far Distinction	Far Demonstrative	Thematic Highlighting: Near and Far Distinctions: Far Distinction
Changed Reference	Thematic Highlighting: Changed Reference	Changed Reference	Thematic Highlighting: Changed Reference
Emphasis (Main Clause)	Word-Order Analysis: Emphasis: Main Clause Emphasis	Focus Main Clause	Word-Order Analysis: Emphasis: Main Clause Emphasis
Emphasis (Main Clause-Other)	Word-Order Analysis: Emphasis: Main Clause Emphasis – Other	Emphasis (Main Clause-Other)	Word-Order Analysis: Emphasis: Main Clause Emphasis – Other
Emphasis (Subordinate Clause)	Word-Order Analysis: Emphasis: Subordinate Clause Emphasis	Emphasis (Subordinate Clause)	Word-Order Analysis: Emphasis: Subordinate Clause Emphasis
Topical Frame	Word-Order Analysis: Frames of Reference: Topical frames	Topical Frame	Word-Order Analysis: Frames of Reference: Topical frames
Temporal Frame	Word-Order Analysis: Frames of Reference: Temporal frames	Temporal Frame	Word-Order Analysis: Frames of Reference: Temporal frames
Spatial Frame	Word-Order Analysis: Frames of Reference: Spatial frames	Spatial Frame	Word-Order Analysis: Frames of Reference: Spatial frames
-	-	Nominative Circumstantial Frame	Word-Order Analysis: Frames of Reference: Circumstantial frame: Nominative circumstantial frame
-	-	Genitive Circumstantial Frame	Word-Order Analysis: Frames of Reference: Circumstantial frame: Genitive circumstantial frame
-	-	Dative Circumstantial Frame	Word-Order Analysis: Frames of Reference: Circumstantial frame: Dative circumstantial frame
Conditional Frame	Word-Order Analysis: Frames of Reference: Conditional frames	Conditional Frame	Word-Order Analysis: Frames of Reference: Conditional frames
Comparative Frame	Word-Order Analysis: Frames of Reference: Comparative frames	Comparative Frame	Word-Order Analysis: Frames of Reference: Comparative frames
Reason-result Frame	Word-Order Analysis: Frames of Reference: Reason/Result frames	Reason-result Frame	Word-Order Analysis: Frames of Reference: Reason/Result frames
Left-dislocation	Word-Order Analysis: Frames of Reference: Left-Dislocation	Left-dislocation	Word-Order Analysis: Frames of Reference: Left-Dislocation
Reported Speech	Other Annotations: Reported Speech	(see below)	(see below)
Reported Speech (Level 2)	Other Annotations: Reported Speech (Level 2)	-
Reported Speech (Level 3)	Other Annotations: Reported Speech (Level 3)	-
Unframed Reported Speech	Other Annotations: Unframed Reported Speech	-
Topic of Verbless Clause	Other Annotations: Topic of Verbless Clause	(see below)	(see below)
-	Outline Annotations: Sentence	-	Outline Annotations: Sentence
-	Outline Annotations: Principle	-	Outline Annotations: Principle
-	Outline Annotations: Support	-	Outline Annotations: Support
-	Outline Annotations: Complex	-	Outline Annotations: Complex
-	Outline Annotations: Sub-group	-	Outline Annotations: Sub-point
-	Outline Annotations: Elaboration	-	Outline Annotations: Elaboration
-	-	-	Outline Annotations: Circumstance
-	Outline Annotations: Bullet	-	Outline Annotations: Bullet
		-	Outline Annotations: Continuative relative clause
		-	Outline Annotations: Reported Speech
		Topic of Verbless Clause	Outline Annotations: Topic of verbless clause

Runge, Steven, and Joshua Westbury, eds. The Lexham Discourse Hebrew Bible: Glossary. Lexham Discourse Hebrew Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012 contains examples of the visual filter tagging conventions. The Greek does not. Some examples of the tagging with mouse-over identification of the coding:

Vocabulary cards

none

Bible Browser

The Bible Browser has the standard functions. Mouse-over on the facet selection panel does provide the meaning of the available choices.

Faithlife Assistant

Not implemented

Interactive

None but there is a built-in filter.

Information Tool

The Information tool presents the expected data. Note that the Information tool deals with a single word at a time so the user must still work out the range over which each to the three tags applies.

Context Menu

The Context Menu has no surprises. Note it does use the Look up function to access the Glossary.

Concordance

Not a label.

Search

Discourse analysis data is assigned to Bibles via the reverse interlinears. Hence, the search finds results in several Bibles.