ARTICLE from Volume 1 of Journal of the Linguistics Institute of Ancient and Biblical Greek by James D. Dvorak

'Thematization, Topic, and Information Flow', JLIABG 1 (2008)

The purpose of this paper is to investigate further within Systemic Functional Linguistic tradition how the textual metafunction of discourse aids in creating flow of information. Focus is narrowed to thematization and topic. Thematic elements of chunks of text are traced in an attempt to elucidate topics. It is also shown how this approach yields important information that can and should be used in the exegesis of biblical discourse.

ARTICLE from Volume 1 of Journal of the Linguistics Institute of Ancient and Biblical Greek by Steven E. Runge

'Relative Saliency and Information Structure in Mark’s Parable of the Sower', JLIABG 1 (2008)

Levinsohn claims that the near and far demonstratives (οὗτος and ἐκεῖνος respectively) can be used non-deictically to encode relative thematic saliency of discourse referents, with οὗτος being used to mark the more salient constituent. In applying this concept to the Markan explanation of the Parable of the Sower, Levinsohn’s claim would indicate that the descriptions of the three unfruitful scatterings of seed are more salient to the writer than the productive scattering that bears fruit. The other synoptic accounts do not seem to make such a distinction in salience, using the near demonstrative οὗτος for both the unfruitful and fruitful plantings alike. Are there other means of analysis to either corroborate or overturn the view that the unfruitful plantings are more thematically salient in Mark’s account? This study applies the cognitive model of Chafe and Givón, and the information- structure model of Lambrecht as applied by Levinsohn to the Markan explanation of the Parable of the Sower (4:14-20). The primary objective is to identify and analyze other linguistic devices, besides demonstratives, which might clarify the apparent prominence given to the unfruitful scatterings in Mark’s account. This study provides the necessary framework for comparing Mark’s pragmatic weighting of salience to that found in the other synoptic accounts in order to determine whether Mark’s version is consistent or divergent with the other traditions.