Sorting out the Lexham Resources

When I happen to see information about any of the Lexham resources here on Logos I'm always fascinated to learn about discourse analysis, and then quickly turned off because I have no idea what I have already or what I would need to get started. I would like to make a definitive list of currently available and soon to be available (pre-pub) Lexham resources so maybe others such as myself might be able to jump in and take advantage of all the potential.

If you own a current Logos Base Package you have up to 9 Lexham resources

1.) Lexham English Bible: New Testament   *(All)
2.) Lexham Greek–English New Testament Interlinear   *(Silver, Gold, Platinum, Portfolio)
3.) Lexham Greek–English Septuagint Interlinear   *(Scholar's, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Portfolio)
4.) Lexham Hebrew–English Interlinear   *(Languages, Gold, Platinum, Portfolio)
5.) Lexham Greek–Hebrew Septuagint Reverse Interlinear (Languages, Scholar's, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Portfolio)
6.) The Lexham Syntactic Greek New Testament (4 Vols.) (Languages, Scholar's, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Portfolio)
7.) The Lexham Syntactic Greek New Testament Glossary (Languages, Scholar's, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Portfolio)
8.) The Lexham Syntactic Greek New Testament: Sentence Analysis   (Languages, Scholar's, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Portfolio)
9.) Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament   *(Silver, Gold, Platinum, Portfolio)

* = available for individual purchase/download

Outside of the Base Packages, 6 resource or resource packages exist

10.) Discourse Grammar of the Greek New Testament: A Practical Introduction for Teaching and Exegesis

11.) Lexham Discourse Greek New Testament Bundle (6 Vols.)

including Lexham High Definition New Testament: ESV Edition (3 Vols.)

----------------------------------- Currently in Pre-Pub -----------------------------------

12.) Lexham Discourse Hebrew Bible Bundle (6 Vols.)

including Lexham High Definition Old Testament (3 Vols.)

13.) Introducing New Testament Discourse Grammar: Video Series

14.) High Definition Commentary: Philippians (English | E spañol)

15.) High Definition Commentary: Romans

Where I become confused is the difference between the Lexham Discourse Hebrew Bible & Lexham High Definition Old Testament (ESV) that are both in the OT Bundle and the Lexham Discourse Greek New Testament & Lexham High Definition New Testament: ESV Edition. Are they basically mirrors of each other in the sense of seeing meaning flow from original language to English and vice versa?

I also see that outside the interlinears and commentaries, Lexham focuses on Discourse Analysis and Syntactic Analysis. Is there a good brief definition of either of these?

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Mark Smith

Paul, I'm no expert here, but this snip is on the HDNT web page:

For those who want to work with the Greek, Logos is pleased to offer the new Lexham Discourse Greek New Testament, which features a more detailed markup of the Greek New Testament.

So obviously one is in Greek and the other English, but the Greek text contains more information for those who can work with it.

There is similar info on the OT resources.

Donald L. Platt

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/174923#Comment_174923

Paul and Mark,

You might find this helpful. Create a new Collection entitled "Lexham Resources" and just type "title:lexham" and all of the Lexham material will be in one handy virtual bookshelf. Also, any future Lexham purchases will automatically be added to that Collection.

Simon’s Brother

Are they basically mirrors of each other in the sense of seeing meaning flow from original language to English and vice versa?

The Discourse Greek Testament includes extra device markers that are not visible in the english text due to translation. Here is an example John1:16-17.

The green highlight in the greek text marks a historical present and the yellow marks what is a device named as a thematic addition.

For more on the Lexham Syntactic Range take a look at: http://www.logos.com/logos3/new/lexhamSGNT

For more on the Lexham Clausal Range take a look at: http://www.logos.com/logos3/new/clausaloutlines

A quick definition of discourse analysis:

discourse analysis. n. The study of larger units of speech and writing—anything above the sentence level— with special attentiveness to how writers employ certain linguistic features to achieve certain ends. The term can also be used with reference to recognizable “speech events” or types (e.g., a sermon, a joke, an interview), textual cohesion (how discourse units are bound together), argument development and the broad notion of text as social interchange. The term is sometimes used very broadly to entail study of practically all human communication. Also known as text grammar or text linguistics.

DeMoss, M. S. 2001. Pocket dictionary for the study of New Testament Greek (48). InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, Ill.

I did not come across one for syntactical analysis but if you think about our process of studying the scriptures. We move back and forth along the path from Word Study i.e. Lexical Analysis (e.g. BDAG and BWS report, and exegetical guide) to Syntactical Analysis (how are the words put together to communicate something meaningful i.e. how to do we build sentences) e.g Visualisation Tools in Logos such as the clausal outlines and syntactic Greek tools to Discourse Analysis (how is the author communicating to us through a group of sentences (e.g. Discourse (Greek and Hebrew) and High Definition Tools (English).

That's my self educated take on it Paul. If someone has a better qualified response for both Paul and myself I'm happy to hear it.

Simon’s Brother

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/175445#Comment_175445

Syntactical Analysis (how are the words put together to communicate something meaningful i.e. how to do we build sentences)

To think a bit more about Syntax Analysis and the tools and searches you can do with Logos I recommend having a look at the videos under the heading Syntax on this page: http://www.logos.com/logos3/videos . In particular look at the ones under the heading Introducing the Concepts and Benefits of Syntax. While these are written for L3 the base concepts will remain essentially the same. The technique of how to build a syntax query in L4 will have change in terms of the interface but the other syntax videos on specific resources may still be of value in them in terms of gaining insight into what the different databases offer.

DMB

I'd suspect you'll get an extended answer from Steve at Logos Monday, since your question is really good. The way I remember the differences:

Morph-tag: describes parts of speech. So for example a dog is most often a 'noun'. It can also be a 'verb'. Various languages then further break out types of nouns, etc.

Syntax: in the previous example, dog as a noun, can also be a 'subject' or an 'object'. So syntax describes across languages how the pieces inter-relate, to include forming 'sentences', phrases, etc.

Discourse: introduces the expected motive of the speaker and how ideas are typically packaged, connecting more broadly to the culture. So for example discourse in greek is completely different from discourse in Navajo, even though the syntax is not that much different, and the morph-tags almost alike.

'High Definition': I believe is a specific method to display discourse relationships in an easy to follow approach, that can overlay languages, as you translate from one to the other. Quite often, the literal translation doesn't carry the relationships inherant in the combinations.

The above said, I think a whole sequence of how you'd approach the levels sure would be good to lay-out by Logos and enhance sales as well. I've always thought the discourse level is the most useful in a sermon (speaking from a 'lay' point of view).

Simon’s Brother

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/175482#Comment_175482

I'd suspect you'll get an extended answer from Steve at Logos Monday, since your question is really good.

Good summary Denise, but agree Steve would be the one to give the best answer.

Steve Runge

I also see that outside the interlinears and commentaries, Lexham focuses on Discourse Analysis and Syntactic Analysis. Is there a good brief definition of either of these?

"Lexham" is the imprint that Logos uses for publishing our own resources, just like "Anchor" is Yale's (formerly Doubleday's) imprint and so on. Generally speaking, resources that we produce that have to do with original languages will be branded as Lexham. It just so happens that a lot of our production in this area has to do with syntax and discourse studies. Hope that helps.

Paul N

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176322#Comment_176322

Hey that clears alot up! So when I read "Lexham" I should think Logos published instead of assuming its all a part of the same technique at studying the Bible. This is encouraging and that means I'll just take it one resource at a time.

Steve Runge

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/175482#Comment_175482

Discourse: introduces the expected motive of the speaker and how ideas are typically packaged, connecting more broadly to the culture. So for example discourse in greek is completely different from discourse in Navajo, even though the syntax is not that much different, and the morph-tags almost alike.

'High Definition': I believe is a specific method to display discourse relationships in an easy to follow approach, that can overlay languages, as you translate from one to the other. Quite often, the literal translation doesn't carry the relationships inherant in the combinations.

Sorry I missed looking on Monday, but...

My main interest in discourse is to describe the kinds of things that traditional grammar either cannot do very well or things that operate "above the sentence level." What does that mean? In the introduction of the discourse grammar text (see link below), I use Wallace's explanation of Greek conjunctions to show how we can improve our understanding of Greek. He lists the same Greek conjunctions under several different headings, making it hard to figure out, for instance, how KAI and DE differ from one another. The secret? Greek is not English. There are places of mismatch between the languages, where one language uses this device to accomplish a task whereas the other uses a different one. This is where discourse can come in handy, as my approach provides a task-based explanation. It focuses on what it's doing, regardless of how its translated.

Most grammar focus on the sentence, which makes it ill-equipped to tackle issues that operate say at the paragraph-level (i.e. somewhere above the sentence). I do not intend to replace morph and syntax; I presuppose that it exists and that you understand it. I tackle the leftovers, and try to clarify the muddy things that have not been handled well by "the dead grammarians" like Robertson and BDF. They knew their stuff, but lacked a suitable descriptive framework.

I have attached the preface to the discourse grammar, the updated version that will be coming soon to Logos. In it I describe why I do what I do, and how the resources are intended to support one another. Read through that and see if that answers your questions. If you want a bigger sample of what I do, go to the publication page of my blog, www.ntdiscourse.org. The three chapters of the grammar (draft version) are posted there, as well as conference papers and articles. Also, the tags for "Analyze this" and "Introduction" should also bring up some fun, digestible reading, helping to inform your decision.

2806.DGGNT Preface.pdf

Regarding the High Def Commentaries (HDC): Most of what I have done up to this point I'd consider discourse grammar more than analysis. I have annotated and described occurrences of various discourse devices, but I have not synthesized everything together into a holistic analysis of an entire book. This is where the HDC comes in. I restrict my comments primarily to the flow and development of the discourse, and the result of using a device more so than saying "Hey look, a discourse device!" I do not presuppose that you speak, eat and breath discourse studies, quite the opposite. This is part of what has made it so hard, as it has required me to "know my stuff" at a whole new level--a simpler one.

Working my way through grad school, I framed houses under the auspices of my construction company: Academic Construction. That was seriously the name, and it put me before Acme in the phone book. Back then I used to joke that I didn't really understand a concept until I could get the plumber excited about it. It was not that he was any more dull than the rest of us, it was just the trade I picked. The same holds true in the HDC. If you cannot understand that I am talking about, then I consider it my problem to find a better way of explaining it.

Hope that helps,

Steve