Elitzur A Bar-Asher Siegal
Biographic Data
| ID | 700152 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Elitzur A Bar-Asher Siegal |
| GIVEN NAMES | Elitzur A Bar-Asher |
| FAMILY NAME | Siegal |
| SIGNATURE | SIEGAL E A B |
| AFFILIATIONS | Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-1639-5927 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 14 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 2 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 14 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2011 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Modeling linguistic causation
This paper develops a formal methodology for capturing and representing the semantics of causal expressions in natural languages. Focusing on two causative constructions—covert causatives (change-of-state verbs) and overt causatives (the verb cause )—it provides a proof of concept for analyzing the distinguished meanings of different causative constructions. We adopt the formal framework of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze causality …
Causation and Causal Relations: Insights from Natural Language
This article examines the relationship between natural language and causal cognition and argues that linguistic expressions both reflect and constrain the ways in which humans conceptualize and represent causation. It opens with a survey of foundational philosophical theories of causation, focusing on the tension between metaphysical accounts and judgment-based approaches. The discussion then turns to a range of linguistic phenomena—including cau…
A formal approach to reanalysis and the Early Semantic Stability Hypothesis: Exploring the test case of the negative counterfactual marker ʾilmale in Hebrew and Aramaic
This study delves into the intricate process of reanalysis, wherein linguistic expressions undergo grammatical or semantic changes, or sometimes both. The primary objective of this study is to explore the theoretical aspects surrounding historical changes of this nature. To facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the topic, we provide a formal description of reanalysis as an analytical tool. Our formal description allows for the differentiati…
Verbal strategies for expressing reciprocity – the case of Hebrew
This paper delves into the semantics of the reciprocal construction recognized in the literature as "verbal" or "lexical" reciprocals. A common assumption is that predicates of this construction inherently encode a symmetric meaning, often marked morphologically in many languages. This paper advocates for a crucial distinction between two types of predicates: rec-predicates (e.g., the Hebrew verb hitnašek 'kiss') - a class of predicates that do n…
The derivatives of Barth's Law in the light of modern Arabic dialects
In 1894, Jacob Barth proposed that the preformative conjugation in some of the Semitic languages goes back to a - generally bygone - inverse correlation between the thematic vowel of the stem and that of the conjugational prefix. Evidence for such a distribution is well attested in all branches of Central Semitic, yet it remains disputed whether it should be reconstructed for Proto-Semitic as well. This paper makes use of new data from a living S…
A formal approach to reanalysis: The case of a negative counterfactual marker
This paper proposes a formal definition of reanalysis, while emphasizing the importance of the distinction between two different kinds of reanalysis: those in which the change is confined to the grammatical level, and those in which it is confined to the semantic level. After tracing the history of a negative counterfactual conditional marker in Hebrew and Aramaic which underwent both syntactic and semantic reanalyses, the paper assesses the conc…
The Interrogative-Indefinite Puzzle in the Context of Biblical Hebrew: “Theoretical Approaches to Anaphora and Pronouns in Biblical Hebrew”: Papers forming part of the 2017 SBL Linguistics and Biblica…
The biblical corpus features a number of verses in which interrogative pronouns appear in non-interrogative contexts. The same phenomenon is observed in many other languages and gives rise to the question known in the linguistic literature as “the interrogative-indefinite puzzle,” namely, what is the natural connection between the interrogative and indefinite functions. This paper seeks to explore how this question should be examined in the conte…
The Hebrew-Based Traditions in Galatians 4: 21-31
Dieser Artikel schlägt vor, den Fokus für das Gesamtargument in Gal 4:21-31 auf Jes 54,1 zu legen. Der Gedankengang des Paulus wird offenbar klarer, wenn das Wort ב ו עלה aus Jesaja in seiner späthebräischen Bedeutung als »nicht jungfräulich« interpretiertwird statt in seiner gewöhnlichen biblischen Bedeutung als »die, die den Mann hat«, die sich auch in der Formulierung der Septuaginta (τῆς ἐχούσης τὸνἄνδρα) wiederfindet. Die vorgeschlagene Lesa…
What Is New in the np-Strategy for Expressing Reciprocity in Modern Hebrew and What Are Its Origins
This essay focuses on various aspects of the np -strategies for expressing reciprocity in Modern Hebrew and inquires about their origin. It attempts to determine the exact type of relationship that exists between the contemporary constructions and their equivalents in older periods. It describes a situation in which Modern Hebrew added a new np -construction to express reciprocity, due to a calque of a construction existing in Indo-European langu…
Reconsidering the Emergence of Non-core Dative Constructions in Modern Hebrew
This article critically scrutinizes the perceived view that the emergence of non-core dative constructions in Modern Hebrew is due to a Slavic-Yiddish influence. It studies the Biblical and Mishnaic sources, showing that these language strata contain highly similar constructions to the ones in Modern Hebrew. It additionally shows that parallel constructions existed in languages spoken in the Jewish communities at the time of the revival, revealin…
The case for external sentential negation: Evidence from Jewish Babylonian Aramaic
This paper has a twofold goal: (i) In the context of negation in general to provide a clear conceptual distinction between internal and external negation, which is summarized as follows
Notes on the history of reciprocal NP-strategies in Semitic languages in a typological perspective
Among Semitic reciprocal constructions, a division is seen between two types: 1) two-unit constructions, with two components, each filling a different argument position of the verb, and 2) one-unit constructions, with an anaphora that co-refers with the subject (that must be plural) and occupies only the non-subject position required by the verb. The goal of this paper is to explain how these constructions developed, specifically: 1) how did the …
Reciprocal NP-Strategies in Jewish Dialects of Near Eastern Neo-Aramaic in Light of Parallel Semitic Constructions
This article focuses on the origin of the forms of various NP-strategies for expressing reciprocity in the Jewish dialects of North Eastern Neo-Aramaic ( nena ). The discussion concerning the origin of these forms is of special interest when considering their historical relationship with their regional ancestors from Late Aramaic (Syriac, Jewish Babylonian Aramaic, and Mandaic). This discussion is conducted in light of what has been previously di…
From typology to diachrony: Synchronic and diachronic aspects of predicative possessive constructions in Akkadian
This study uses typological surveys of predicative possessive constructions across languages and illustrates how a typological study may contribute to a historical discussion. More specifically it provides an account of such constructions in the history of Akkadian. The typological surveys reveal that various constructions in Akkadian not only connote possession accidently, but rather are tokens of predicative possessive constructions. Thus, this…
The derivatives of Barth's Law in the light of modern Arabic dialects
In 1894, Jacob Barth proposed that the preformative conjugation in some of the Semitic languages goes back to a - generally bygone - inverse correlation between the thematic vowel of the stem and that of the conjugational prefix. Evidence for such a distribution is well attested in all branches of Central Semitic, yet it remains disputed whether it should be reconstructed for Proto-Semitic as well. This paper makes use of new data from a living S…
The case for external sentential negation: Evidence from Jewish Babylonian Aramaic
This paper has a twofold goal: (i) In the context of negation in general to provide a clear conceptual distinction between internal and external negation, which is summarized as follows
From typology to diachrony: Synchronic and diachronic aspects of predicative possessive constructions in Akkadian
This study uses typological surveys of predicative possessive constructions across languages and illustrates how a typological study may contribute to a historical discussion. More specifically it provides an account of such constructions in the history of Akkadian. The typological surveys reveal that various constructions in Akkadian not only connote possession accidently, but rather are tokens of predicative possessive constructions. Thus, this…
Notes on the history of reciprocal NP-strategies in Semitic languages in a typological perspective
Among Semitic reciprocal constructions, a division is seen between two types: 1) two-unit constructions, with two components, each filling a different argument position of the verb, and 2) one-unit constructions, with an anaphora that co-refers with the subject (that must be plural) and occupies only the non-subject position required by the verb. The goal of this paper is to explain how these constructions developed, specifically: 1) how did the …
Reciprocal NP-Strategies in Jewish Dialects of Near Eastern Neo-Aramaic in Light of Parallel Semitic Constructions
This article focuses on the origin of the forms of various NP-strategies for expressing reciprocity in the Jewish dialects of North Eastern Neo-Aramaic ( nena ). The discussion concerning the origin of these forms is of special interest when considering their historical relationship with their regional ancestors from Late Aramaic (Syriac, Jewish Babylonian Aramaic, and Mandaic). This discussion is conducted in light of what has been previously di…
What Is New in the np-Strategy for Expressing Reciprocity in Modern Hebrew and What Are Its Origins
This essay focuses on various aspects of the np -strategies for expressing reciprocity in Modern Hebrew and inquires about their origin. It attempts to determine the exact type of relationship that exists between the contemporary constructions and their equivalents in older periods. It describes a situation in which Modern Hebrew added a new np -construction to express reciprocity, due to a calque of a construction existing in Indo-European langu…
Reconsidering the Emergence of Non-core Dative Constructions in Modern Hebrew
This article critically scrutinizes the perceived view that the emergence of non-core dative constructions in Modern Hebrew is due to a Slavic-Yiddish influence. It studies the Biblical and Mishnaic sources, showing that these language strata contain highly similar constructions to the ones in Modern Hebrew. It additionally shows that parallel constructions existed in languages spoken in the Jewish communities at the time of the revival, revealin…
The case for external sentential negation: Evidence from Jewish Babylonian Aramaic
This paper has a twofold goal: (i) In the context of negation in general to provide a clear conceptual distinction between internal and external negation, which is summarized as follows
The Hebrew-Based Traditions in Galatians 4: 21-31
Dieser Artikel schlägt vor, den Fokus für das Gesamtargument in Gal 4:21-31 auf Jes 54,1 zu legen. Der Gedankengang des Paulus wird offenbar klarer, wenn das Wort ב ו עלה aus Jesaja in seiner späthebräischen Bedeutung als »nicht jungfräulich« interpretiertwird statt in seiner gewöhnlichen biblischen Bedeutung als »die, die den Mann hat«, die sich auch in der Formulierung der Septuaginta (τῆς ἐχούσης τὸνἄνδρα) wiederfindet. Die vorgeschlagene Lesa…
A formal approach to reanalysis: The case of a negative counterfactual marker
This paper proposes a formal definition of reanalysis, while emphasizing the importance of the distinction between two different kinds of reanalysis: those in which the change is confined to the grammatical level, and those in which it is confined to the semantic level. After tracing the history of a negative counterfactual conditional marker in Hebrew and Aramaic which underwent both syntactic and semantic reanalyses, the paper assesses the conc…
The Interrogative-Indefinite Puzzle in the Context of Biblical Hebrew: “Theoretical Approaches to Anaphora and Pronouns in Biblical Hebrew”: Papers forming part of the 2017 SBL Linguistics and Biblica…
The biblical corpus features a number of verses in which interrogative pronouns appear in non-interrogative contexts. The same phenomenon is observed in many other languages and gives rise to the question known in the linguistic literature as “the interrogative-indefinite puzzle,” namely, what is the natural connection between the interrogative and indefinite functions. This paper seeks to explore how this question should be examined in the conte…
The derivatives of Barth's Law in the light of modern Arabic dialects
In 1894, Jacob Barth proposed that the preformative conjugation in some of the Semitic languages goes back to a - generally bygone - inverse correlation between the thematic vowel of the stem and that of the conjugational prefix. Evidence for such a distribution is well attested in all branches of Central Semitic, yet it remains disputed whether it should be reconstructed for Proto-Semitic as well. This paper makes use of new data from a living S…
Verbal strategies for expressing reciprocity – the case of Hebrew
This paper delves into the semantics of the reciprocal construction recognized in the literature as "verbal" or "lexical" reciprocals. A common assumption is that predicates of this construction inherently encode a symmetric meaning, often marked morphologically in many languages. This paper advocates for a crucial distinction between two types of predicates: rec-predicates (e.g., the Hebrew verb hitnašek 'kiss') - a class of predicates that do n…
Modeling linguistic causation
This paper develops a formal methodology for capturing and representing the semantics of causal expressions in natural languages. Focusing on two causative constructions—covert causatives (change-of-state verbs) and overt causatives (the verb cause )—it provides a proof of concept for analyzing the distinguished meanings of different causative constructions. We adopt the formal framework of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze causality …
Causation and Causal Relations: Insights from Natural Language
This article examines the relationship between natural language and causal cognition and argues that linguistic expressions both reflect and constrain the ways in which humans conceptualize and represent causation. It opens with a survey of foundational philosophical theories of causation, focusing on the tension between metaphysical accounts and judgment-based approaches. The discussion then turns to a range of linguistic phenomena—including cau…
A formal approach to reanalysis and the Early Semantic Stability Hypothesis: Exploring the test case of the negative counterfactual marker ʾilmale in Hebrew and Aramaic
This study delves into the intricate process of reanalysis, wherein linguistic expressions undergo grammatical or semantic changes, or sometimes both. The primary objective of this study is to explore the theoretical aspects surrounding historical changes of this nature. To facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the topic, we provide a formal description of reanalysis as an analytical tool. Our formal description allows for the differentiati…
Linguistics (12 works) · Philosophy (12 works) · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation (9 works) · History (8 works) · Hebrew (4 works) · Historical and Linguistic Studies (4 works) · Historical Linguistics and Language Studies (4 works) · Language, Linguistics, Cultural Analysis (4 works) · Linguistics and language evolution (4 works) · Psychology (4 works)