A Cross-Cultural Conceptual Study of the Emotion of קצף in the Hebrew Bible and the Folk Theory of the Emotion of Ngoò in the Kĩkamba Language

George Mutuku

Description

Communication requires more than a lexical understanding of words. Language relies on the background understanding of the speaker and hearer – an understanding that cannot be taken for granted when communicating cross-culturally.
In this study, Dr. George Mbithi Mutuku brings to life a deeper understanding of emotion, specifically anger, in the Hebrew Bible. Utilizing frame semantics and undertaking a comparative study of קצף and ngoò as conceptualized in Hebrew and Akamba cultures, respectively, Mutuku argues that ngoò would have been the best rendering for the Hebrew concept קצף in the Kĩkamba Bible. So doing, he demonstrates the value of exploring words and meanings in their cultural contexts and offers a powerful warning against the assumption that any word – even the word of God – carries universal meaning divorced from that context. He reminds us that God’s word is communicated to us cross-culturally, so we must take seriously the responsibility of transferring its meaning across languages.

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Biblical Studies
• Philosophie et théologie
• Old Testament

Informations

• Publié par: Langham Creative Projects
• Date de parution: 02 mars 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781839738104
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Dr. George Mbithi Mutuku’s comprehensive study about how קצף ‎ (anger) was understood and expressed in the ancient Hebrew culture is very informative. His observation that some aspects of קצף ‎ as conveyed in the Hebrew Bible are lacking in the Kĩkamba Bible, such as nonexistence of the word ngoò that expresses intense anger, is incontestable. His 5-point logic on how קצף ‎ is perceived and dealt with, either by retribution or by “swallowing” it, helps the reader concerning development of the vital virtue of anger management. Thus, the research has demonstrated systematically and carefully the importance of cross-cultural communication in preaching, teaching and Bible translation. I therefore recommend the book to students in institutions of higher learning who are doing biblical and translation studies, and other serious scholars, teachers and preachers of the word of God.
Nathan Nzyoka Joshua, PhD
Lecturer and Head of Department for Biblical Studies,
Africa International University, Kenya
George Mbithi Mutuku has had extensive graduate level education in biblical Hebrew exegesis and has an intimate knowledge of both the Kĩkamba language and Akamba culture. In this monograph Dr. Mutuku has clearly demonstrated that the biblical Hebrew concept קצף ‎ would be best rendered in the Kĩkamba Bible by ngoò , a word that hitherto has been unused in the Kĩkamba Old Testament. This work is highly recommended for graduate level biblical Hebrew exegesis classes, Old Testament exegetes, and Bible translators.
Mark Mercer, ThD
Senior Lecturer (retired),
Africa International University, Kenya

A Cross-Cultural Conceptual Study of the Emotion of קצף ‎ in the Hebrew Bible and the Folk Theory of the Emotion of Ngoò in the Kĩkamba Language
George Mbithi Mutuku

© 2023 George Mbithi Mutuku
Published 2023 by Langham Monographs
An imprint of Langham Publishing
www.langhampublishing.org
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ISBNs:
978-1-83973-238-6 Print
978-1-83973-810-4 ePub
978-1-83973-811-1 Mobi
978-1-83973-812-8 PDF
George MbithiMutuku has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to be identified as the Author of this work.
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All Scripture translations in this work, unless otherwise indicated, are the author’s own.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan.
Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-1-83973-238-6
Cover & Book Design: projectluz.com
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Contents

Cover


Abstract


List of Abbreviations


Chapter 1 Introduction


1.1 Unexplored Field: Motivation for This Study


1.2 A Summary of the Lexical Meaning of קצף in the BHS


1.3 A Summary of Ngoò in the Kĩkamba Language


1.4 The Research Questions


1.5 Previous Scholarship (in Addition to the Lexical Meaning) on קצף in the Hebrew Bible


1.6 Limitation of Previous Studies on קצף


1.7 Thesis Statement


1.8 Contribution to Biblical Scholarship


1.9 Synopsis of the Chapters


Chapter 2 Methodology


2.1 Charles Fillmore’s Frame Semantics


2.2 Richard Shweder and Jonathan Haidt’s Symbolic Approach


2.3 Daniel M. T. Fessler’s “Logic”


2.4 Qualitative Field Research


2.5 Proposed Complementary Approach


Chapter 3 The קצף Frame


3.1 The קצף Frame


3.2 Distinctiveness of קצף Frame


3.3 The Homonyms of קצף


Chapter 4 The Akamba Folk Theory of Ngoò “Anger”


4.1 The Akamba Origin


4.2 The Kĩkamba Language


4.3 The Akamba Emotional Category


4.4 The Akamba Folk Theory of Ngoò “Anger”


4.5 Classification of Kĩkamba Anger Words


4.6 The BHS Lexical Equivalent of Ngoò “Anger”


4.7 Ngoò Frame: Relationship-retribution


4.8 Distinctiveness of Ngoò


Chapter 5 Frames of קצף and Ngoò : The Differences, Similarities and How Some Facets of the קצף Frame are Represented in the Kĩkamba Bible


5.1 A Brief History of the Kĩkamba Bible


5.2 Differences of the קצף and Ngoò Frames


5.3 Similarities of the קצף and Ngoò Frames


5.4 The קצף Frame Representation in the Kĩkamba Bible


5.5 Extra Words for Anger in Kĩkamba


5.6 The Value of Cross-Cultural Study in Biblical Studies


Chapter 6 Conclusion and Recommendations


6.1 Conclusion


6.2 Recommendations


Bibliography


About Langham Partnership

Endnotes
Abstract
This dissertation is a cross-cultural conceptual study of the emotion of קצף ‎ in the Hebrew Bible and the folk theory of the emotion of ngoò in the Kĩkamba language. The central argument advanced is that a cross-cultural conceptual study of the emotion of קצף ‎ reveals how קצף ‎ was conceptualized in the ancient Hebrew culture, and its comparative study with the folk theory of the emotion of ngoò shows that concept of ngoò would have been the best rendering for the Hebrew concept קצף ‎ in the Kĩkamba Bible. In advancing this argument, three goals are met: First, this research explains the conceptualization of קצף ‎ in the ancient Hebrew culture. In particular, this research demonstrates how קצף ‎ functions within the קצף ‎ frame which will be explained in detail in chapter 3. This frame is supported by the use of קֶצֶף ‎ as subject accompanied by the הָיָה ‎, יָצָא ‎ and בוֹא ‎ verbs. Second, it employs a cross-cultural study of קצף ‎ and ngoò , and demonstrates the variance in their conceptual facets, and third, it demonstrates the value of cross-cultural study in biblical studies.
The author has used a variety of methods to analyze the collected data but the main method used is frame semantics by Charles Fillmore. This method is appropriate since it demonstrates that the meaning of words is anchored in the “frames” of those words. Therefore, a student is encouraged to, first, avoid heavy reliance on dictionaries to determine the meaning and usage of words. Instead, the student should make every effort to study the contexts of the words or phrases and their historical setting. Second, the student of Scripture or of any literature is warned not to assume that the words of a particular language carry a universal meaning. It is, therefore, prudent to engage in cross-cultural study and ensure that the meaning of the parent language is transferred into the receptor language.
List of Abbreviations

AB The Anchor Bible ASP Aspect BDB Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon BHS Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia DCH The Dictionary of Classical Hebrew DEM Demonstrative FOC Focus FUTa Immediate Future FUTb Distant Future FUTc Remote Future FV Final Vowel HAB Habitual HALOT The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament BHS Hebrew Bible ICC International Critical Commentary IMPER Imperative INF Infinitive NABRE New American Bible Revised Edition NAC New American Commentary NASB New American Standard Bible NEG Negation NKJV New King James Version NIDOTTE New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis NIV New International Version, 2011 Edition by Biblica, Inc. NRSV New Revised Standard Version OTL Old Testament Library PASS Passive PERF Perfect PROG Progressive PRT Present Tense PSTa Immediate Past PSTb Near Past PSTc Distant Past PSTd Remote Past QUE Question Marker WBC Word Biblical Commentary
Chapter 1
Introduction
This research is a cross-cultural conceptual study of the emotion of קצף ‎ in the Hebrew Bible, hereafter BHS, [1] and the folk theory of the emotion of ngoò in the Kĩkamba language. The motivation for such a study stems from the need to communicate between one language and cultural community and another while acknowledging that there are significant differences. Biblical authors wrote from a particular cultural viewpoint and Bible translators translated that message to other languages of different cultures. It is prudent to underscore that for effective communication to occur, the differences and similarities in the conceptualization of different lexical items have to be factored in, in this case קצף ‎ and ngoò .
The value of a conceptual analysis of lexical items is noted by Zoltán Kövecses who, while studying the English word “anger,” said that “the English word ‘anger’ and its counterparts in diverse languages of the world are based on concepts of anger that have a great deal of complexity.” [2] Thus, for communication (proper understanding between the speaker and receptor) to occur, the complexities of these concepts should be examined. The understanding and use of words by different people groups is embedded in their minds as a concept th