I am adding these posts to the previous tip list L/V 10 Tip of the Day ; Here I am testing the use of comments to expand the length of the post. Please comment on how you think this might work as a way around the post length restriction. Note that the end of the laws discussion is still in the holding cell.
QUESTION: In the context of linguistics, how do commands and promises differ?
ANSWER: From Perplexity:
In linguistics, commands and promises differ in several key ways:
1. Directionality:
Commands are directed from the speaker to the listener, telling them what to do.
Promises are commitments made by the speaker about their own future actions.
2. Agency:
Commands assume the listener has agency to carry out the action.
Promises indicate the speaker's agency and intention to do something.
3. Grammatical mood:
Commands typically use the imperative mood.
Promises often use future tense or modal verbs like "will" or "shall".
4. Obligation:
Commands place an obligation on the listener.
Promises create a self-imposed obligation on the speaker.
5. Speech act theory:
Commands are directive speech acts, attempting to get the listener to do something.
Promises are commissive speech acts, committing the speaker to a future action.
6. Presupposition:
Commands presuppose the speaker has authority over the listener.
Promises presuppose the speaker's ability and intention to fulfill them.
7. Response:
Commands expect compliance or refusal from the listener.
Promises typically expect acknowledgment or acceptance from the listener.
8. Time orientation:
Commands are usually about immediate or near-future actions.
Promises are inherently about future actions, often with no specified timeframe.
9. Conditionality:
Commands are generally unconditional.
Promises can be conditional ("If X happens, I promise to do Y").
10. Performative nature:
Saying "I command you" performs the act of commanding.
Saying "I promise" performs the act of promising.
These linguistic differences reflect the distinct social and communicative functions of commands versus promises in language and interaction.
QUESTION: How does Logos/Verbum analyze “Whoever attacks Kiriath-sepher and takes it, I will give him my daughter Achsah as wife.[1]”
SOFTWARE: The information provided for promises is similar to that provided for commands, including the use of the VerbNet verb classes. Many of the promises are attached to events in which the promise is fulfilled.
ANSWER: from the Context Menu
Morphology: verb, Qal, wᵊqātal (waw + perfect), first person, singular
Speaker: Caleb (Spy)
Addressee: Judeans (Judges)
Longacre Genre { Primary: `LongacreGenre:Narr: Story` } Note that genre is not directly related to the fact that the direct speech is a promise.
Promise { Fulfillment: `BibleKnowledgebase:*IsraelConquerDebir`; Theme: `BibleKnowledgebase:pt:Marriage`; Verb Class: "Transfer" }
Culture:"Arranging a Marriage"
Sentence type: Declarative Sentence
Sentence type: Imperative Sentence
Speech Act: Informative: Assertive
Speech Act: Informative: Assertive
To translate the Fulfillment as shown above (the text copy function on the context menu) into something useable to identify the passage references:
Select the promise in the Bible text.
Right click to open the Context menu.
Select the Promise label on the left (tab) side in the Context menu.
Select a search on the right (action) side in the Context menu. I usually select a Bible search.
From the search argument promise:(fulfillment:event:"The Israelites conquer Debir" AND theme:preachingTheme:Marriage AND verbClass:Transfer) extract the event name.
Open the Biblical Event Navigator by type Open Biblical Event Navigator into the Command box (open via the application icon on the top (left) of the application toolbar.
Select Biblical Event Navigator under books.
Enter the event name The Israelites conquer Debir into the Biblical Event Navigator find events box.
Select the entry in the results to see the details on the right.
In this case, the fulfillment of the promise is straightforward:
“And Caleb said,“Whoever attacks Kiriathsepher and takes it, to him I will give my daughter Achsah as wife.” Othniel son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it; and he gave him his daughter Achsah as wife.
Note that this should raise study questions such as:
Marriage practices that a daughter could be pledged
Marriage practices that allow kinship marriages of 1st cousins.
War practices allowing “mercenary” soldiers i.e. fighting for a prize rather than under orders.
[1]The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Jdg 1:12.
