Thesis (PhD (Ancient Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this study the conceptualization of love or affecion in the Old Testament is investigated. The most prototypical Biblical Hebrew lexeme for affection, namely אהב , forms the focus of the study. It is hypothesized that the analysis of אהב in terms of its valency and the conceptual frames associated with each of its valency patterns will contribute to a more informative lexicographical description of אהב . Since אהב forms part of a much larger semantic field of lexemes that can convey the attitude of affection, it is neccessary to study these lexemes as well. While the first chapter introduces the topic under investigation, i.e. a study of lexemes of affection, the second chapter aims at demarcating the list of lexemes of affection that needs to be considered. This list amounts to fifteen lexemes in total; fourteen of which can belong to the domain of affection, and one antonym. In Chapter 3 the methodology of the current study is explained. The researcher advocates a Cognitive Linguistic approach. Renier de Blois employed Cognitive Linguistics for his model which is aimed towards compiling the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew. While his model is used as starting point in the present study, some more areas of Cognitive Linguistics are identified that could assist us to refine the model of De Blois. These areas include prototype theory, semantic potential, the notion of radial networks, as well as conceptual frames. Chapter 4 consists of a detailed study of אהב in all its occurrences in the Old Testament, while the remainder of the lexemes of affection as well as its antonym are studied in Chapter 5. In the concluding chapter, Chapter 6, an exposition of the findings is given. This thesis ends with a concise summary of אהב in which all conceptual frames and scripture references where the אהב appear are given. This is followed by a schematic presentation of the lexemes of affection as they occur in relation to the prototypical sense(s) of אהב. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie word die konseptualisering van liefde of affeksie in die Ou Testament ondersoek. Die mees prototipiese Bybels-Hebreeuse lekseem vir affeksie, naamlik אהב , is die fokus van die studie. Dit word veronderstel dat die analise van אהב in terme van die lekseem se valensie en die konseptuele raamwerke wat met die valensie patrone geassosieer word, sal bydra tot „n meer informatiewe leksikografiese beskrywing van אהב . Aangesien אהב deel vorm van „n veel groter semantiese veld van lekseme wat die houding van affeksie beskryf, is dit nodig dat hierdie lekseme ook bestudeer word. Terwyl die eerste hoofstuk die tema van die huidige ondersoek inlei, naamlik die bestudering van lekseme van affeksie in die Bybels-Hebreeuse teks, is die tweede hoofstuk daarop gerig om die lys van lekseme van affeksie vir die ondersoek af te baken. Hiedie lys bestaan uit vyftien lekseme altesaam; veertien lekseme wat deel uitmaak van die domein van affeksie, en een antoniem. In Hoofstuk 3 word die metodologie van die huidige studie uiteengesit. Die navorser staan „n Kognitiewe Linguistiese benadering voor. Renier de Blois het Kognitiewe Linguistiek aangewend vir sy model wat daarop gerig is om die Semantic Dictionary for Biblical Hebrew saam te stel. Alhoewel sy model as beginpunt vir die huidige studie gebruik word, is daar sommige areas binne die veld van Kognitiewe Linguistiek wat aangewend sou kon word om De Blois se model te verfyn. Hierdie areas sluit prototipe teorie, semantiese potensiaal, die idee van straalvormige netwerke, asook konseptuele raamwerke in. Hoofstuk 4 bestaan uit „n gedetailleerde studie van אהב in al sy voorkomste in die Ou Testament, terwyl die res van die lekseme van affeksie sowel as die antoniem in Hoofstuk 5 bestudeer word. In die slot hoofstuk, Hoofstuk 6, is daar „n uiteensetting van die bevindinge. Die tesis eindig met „n kort opsomming van אהב waarin al die konseptuele raamwerke en skrifverwysings waarbinne אהב voorkom, gegee word. Daarna volg „n skematiese voorstelling van die lekseme van affeksie na aanleiding van hul voorkomste in verhouding tot die prototipiese betekenis(se) van אהב.

Thesis(PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Theories of lexical semantics have undergone an evolutionary development for centuries. Geeraerts (2010) has traced their development from the historical-philological era (circa 1880) until the early 21st century. The current situation finds two basic approaches to lexical studies, with scholars positioned on a continuum from a minimalist position to a maximalist position. The former makes a demarcation between linguistics and pragmatics, relegating word meaning to pragmatics and a separation of word knowledge from world knowledge. The latter argues that there can be no separation made between lexical meaning and contextual meaning (word knowledge and world knowledge). The study is based on insights from the maximalist perspective. Second, it proposes that it is necessary to approach semantical studies with a composite approach taking into consideration frames, conceptual metaphor and metonymy, prototype, Idealized Cognitive Models, grammar and figurative uses of language (including non-verbal expressions and symbolic gestures) in order to have a full understanding of the concept a word or expression symbolizes. Third, all of the occurrences of a word or expression that appear in a corpus are analyzed in order to determine a possible range of polysemy as it is expressed in actual language usage. Finally, the context of the research is Bible Translation. One question asked in the investigation is, what information gleaned from the composite model can be appropriately presented in a specialist bilingual lexicon based on a frame model? The results of the research using the eclectic model provided a very broad understanding of some of the lexemes associated with JOY in biblical Hebrew. It was determined that these lexemes were associated with a concept of JOY that was very similar to the five-stage EVENT STRUCTURE metaphor proposed by Kövecses (2010) for emotions in English. Second, the investigation was able to verify the core features of JOY—volition, desire, determination and satisfaction—and to indicate how different construal operations activated specific features of the meaning potential in each linguistic frame. Third, the differences and similarities of each of the specific lexemes that were studied were determined and described. Fourth, it was demonstrated how the appropriate information needed by translators could be described and suggested for entry into a bilingual (biblical Hebrew-English) lexicon designed specifically for Bible Translators. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Teoriee van leksikale semantiek het deur die eeue ‘n evolusionere proses deurloop. Geeraerts (2010) het hierdie ontwikkeling vanaf die histories-filologiese era (ongeveer 1880) tot vroeg in die 21ste eeu nagespoor. Huidiglik kan leksikale studies in twee kampe verdeel word, en geleerdes bevind hulle tipies op ‘n kontinuum tussen ‘n minimalistiese en maksimalisties posisie. Eersgenoemde maak ‘n duidelike onderskeid tussen linguistiek en pragmatiek en religeer woordbetekenis tot pragmatiek en onderskei kennis van ‘n woord van kennis van die wereld. Laasgenoemde argumenteer dat daar geen onderskeid gemaak kan word tussen leksikale betekenis en kontekstuele betekenis nie (woordkennis en kennis van die wêreld). Hierdie studie berus op insigte van die maksimalistiese perspektief. Tweedens, dit stel voor dat dit nodig is om semantiese studies te benader met ‘n meervoudig saamgestelde benadering. So ‘n benadering neem in ag die raamwerk (“frame”), konseptuele metafoor en metonomie, prototipe, “Idealized Cognitive Models”, grammatika en figuurlike gebruike van taal (insluitend nie-verbale uitdrukkings en simboliese gebare) sodat by ‘n deeglike verstaan van die konsep wat ‘n woord of uitdrukking simboliseer, gekom kan word. Derdens, al die gebruike van ‘n woord of uitdrukking wat in ‘n korpus voorkom, word ontleed om te bepaal of ‘n polisemiese verband gepostuleer kan word tussen die uitdrukkings soos dit gebruik word. Ten slotte, die konteks van hierdie studie is Bybelvertaling. Een vraag wat konsekwent in die ondersoek gevra is, is welke informasie wat verkry is deur die meervoudig saamgestelde benadering kan op ‘n gepaste manier aangebied word in ‘n tweetalige leksikon wat rus op ‘n raamwerkmodel (“frame model”). Die resultate van die navorsing waarin die eklektiese model gebruik is, het tot ’n bree verstaan van die konseptualisering van VREUGDE in Bybelse Hebreeus gelei. Daar is vasgestel dat die emosie VREUGDE in Bybelse Hebreeus ooreenstem met die vyf-fase GEBEURTENIS-STRUKTUUR metafoor wat deur Kovecses (2010) voorgestel is vir emosies in Engels. Tweedens, die ondersoek was in staat om die kern-eienskappe van vreugde te verifieer—wil, begeerte, determinasie and satisfaksie—asook om aan te dui hoe verskillende konstruerende (“construal”) operasies aspekte van die betekenispotensiaal in spesifieke raamwerke aktiveer. Derdens, die verskille en die ooreenkomste van elke spesifieke lekseem wat na vreugde verwys, is vasgestel en beskryf. Vierdens is daar gedemonstreer hoe inligting wat ter sake is vir vertalers, beskryf kan word.