The definite article with proper names for referring to people in the Greek of Acts

Authors

Stephen H. Levinsohn, SIL-UND

DOI

10.31356/silwp.vol35.02

Abstract

From the introduction: "I now consider the presence versus absence of the article with proper names, for people in the book of Acts, using the following four categories of description:

-- the unmarked patterns involving the first mention of a participant and further references to the participant in the same incident (Sect. 1); -- the reintroduction of participants after an absence (Sec. 2); -- further references to a participant in the same incident which are anarthrous, instead of arhrous (Sect. 3); -- the use of the article with names in reported speeches (Sect. 4).

"By dividing my discussion into four parts, I do not mean to imply that I am illustrating different principles. Rather, in different contexts, they illustrate a single principle: ANARTHROUS REFERENCES TO PARTICULAR, KNOWN PARTICIPANTS EITHER MARK THE PARTICIPANT AS LOCALLY SALIENT, OR HIGHLIGHT THE SPEECH WHICH S/HE UTTERS."

Recommended Citation

Levinsohn, Stephen H. (1991) "The definite article with proper names for referring to people in the Greek of Acts," Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session: Vol. 35, Article 2.
DOI: 10.31356/silwp.vol35.02
Available at: https://commons.und.edu/sil-work-papers/vol35/iss1/2