Praise and Metonymy in the Psalms: A Cognitive-Semantic Study Open Access

Abstract

This study makes a fresh contribution to the understanding of Hebrew praise language in the Psalms. In addition, it devotes sustained attention to the neglected topic of metonymy in the Hebrew Bible. The theoretical framework for investigating both of these topics and exploring their interaction is cognitive semantics, a major branch of the cognitive movement in contemporary linguistics. This study defines metonymy as a cognitive process in which one entity (the vehicle) provides mental access to another perceptually contiguous entity (the target). It also draws on three recent theoretical developments: metonymy as a prototypical category, metonymy in lexical polysemy, and the interaction of metaphor and metonymy in expressions (metaphtonymy). A cognitive-semantic approach to the Psalms reveals that metonymy profoundly shapes the language and concepts of Hebrew praise.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Cognitive Linguistics
Cognitive Approaches to Grammar
Cognitive Semantics
Summary
Cognitive Semantics and the Hebrew Bible
Encyclopedic Semantics
Prototypical Categories
Conceptual Mappings
Mental Spaces and Blends
Summary
New Developments in Metonymy Theory
Metonymy as a Prototypical Category
Polysemy and Metonymy
Metaphtonymy
Summary
The Present Study
Praise
Psalter
Plan

CHAPTER 2: THE NOUN tehillah
Overview
Meanings
'Praise'
'Praiseworthiness'
'Praiseworthy Deeds'
'Object of Praise'
'Psalm'
Conclusions
Hebrew Dictionaries
Semantic Structure
Conceptual Metonymies

CHAPTER 3: THE NOUN todah
Overview
The Thanksgiving Script
todah in the Psalms
Meanings
'Thanksgiving'
'Thank Offering'
'Thank Vow'
'Thank Bread'
'Thanksgiving Choir'
Conclusions
Hebrew Dictionaries
Semantic Structure
Conceptual Metonymies

CHAPTER 4: THE OBJECT OF PRAISE
Overview
Verbs of Praise
Objects of Praise
Contextual Metonymies
Possessed for Possessor
The Noun shem

The Noun zeker
Product for Producer
Characteristic for Entity
Conclusions

CHAPTER 5: THE SUBJECTS OF PRAISE
Overview
Contextual Metonymies
Spatial Part for Whole
Location for Located
Action/State for Participant
Characteristic for Entity
Conclusions

CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION
Summary
Metonymy
Conceptual Metonymy
Metaphtonymy
Metonymic Chaining
Lexicography
Exegesis
Praise
Praise and Thanksgiving
Praise and Sacrifice
Praise and the Name
Praise and Anthropology
Praise and Cosmology

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

About this Dissertation

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• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Religion
Subfield / Discipline	Hebrew Bible
Degree	PhD
Submission	Dissertation
Language	English
Research Field	Language, Ancient Religion, Biblical Studies Language, Linguistics
Keyword	metonymy Cognitive Semantics Psalms praise
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Strawn, Brent, Emory University
Committee Members	Brown, William, Columbia Theological Seminary Newsom, Carol A, Emory University LeMon, Joel, Emory University

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