Syntactic and Semantic Variation in Copular Sentences: Insights from Classical Hebrew
What is it about?
How sentences expressing 'being' work in the mind? Research in syntax and semantics has shown us the different ways languages divide up these statements about existence. This book presents a theoretical model for analyzing copular sentences in language including related phenomena– such as pseudo-copulas. It is also a demonstration of what can be gained by applying modern linguistic analyses to dead languages. Citing and building off previous studies on this topic, this book will be of interest to those interested in the theoretical examination of copular and existential sentences and to those interested in Classical Hebrew more specifically.
Why is it important?
This volume is important because it adds to our understanding of how languages express concepts of existence. Using data from one of the world's oldest languages, this volume presents new evidence for eventive (not merely stative) expressions of existence.