Verb – γ, κ, χ endings

ObjectivesLearning objectives

• The semantics of the particle ὡσεί
• The morphology of verbs with stems ending in -γ, κ, and χ
• The semantics of the pre-stage use of the Luo

VocabularyVocabulary

Noteὡσεί

The comparative particle ὡσεί is made up of the words ὡς and εἰ. It has two basic functions. First, it is used to compare one object to another object:

An actual dove is not descending in this description; it is the Spirit of God. However, the manner in which the Spirit of God descends resembles that of a dove.

In the second use, ὡσεί is best translated as ‘about’ and is used to refer to an approximate amount:

It is not necessarily the case that there were exactly 12 men, but this is the approximate number of them.

MorphologyMorphology: Verb – γ, κ, χ endings

• Final γ, κ, and χ in the stem of verbs combine with consonantal endings in the following ways
• γ/κ/χ + σ = ξ (Elusa/Luso)
• γ/κ/χ + θ = γ or χθ (Aorist/Luso psv)
• γ/κ/χ + κ = often γ or χ (Leluka)
• Leluka psvs have a variable vowel, e.g. ἐστήριγμαι/ξαι/κται

SemanticsSemantics: Verb – Luo (6 – Pre-stage)

Verb – Luo: all 4 parts on one page →Also in Lesson 40.1, Lesson 42.2, Lesson 43.2

In 9.4.3.2, we noted that verbs that refer to instantaneous events (which are called achievements) are often interpreted as events that culminate when used in narrative. However, these verbs may also refer to a habit (see 6.3.3.2) or to the pre-stage of an event:

Zacchaeus is not in the physical act of distributing half of his possessions to the poor as he is speaking to Jesus. In other words, he is not in the midst of carrying out the event, which would be the event-in-progress interpretation. Nor, however, can this be interpreted as a past event or a habitual event. It must refer to a future act of giving, but the future tense is not used. The present is used here to refer to the pre-stage of the event. Zacchaeus says he is giving (present tense) to the poor because he has already decided to give. It is in this sense that the event has already begun. Thus, the Luo form can be used for events (especially instantaneous ones, i.e. achievements) that have already been decided but have not yet begun.