We, Rachel and Michael Aubrey, are giving an academic forum at Dallas International University on Thursday, July 31⋅12:30 – 1:20pm CDT.

Title: Greek & Hebrew Prepositions and the Source-Path-Goal Schema in Bible Translation

Abstract: 

What do constructions like “from strength to strength”, “from glory to glory”, or “from faith to faith” mean? Come explore their cognitive basis. The SOURCE-PATH-GOAL (SPG) image schema constitutes a common meaning structure across languages that is grounded in our shared embodied human experience (Lakoff 1987, Hampe and Grady 2005). In Biblical Hebrew and Ancient Greek, it has formal realization in syntax as a family of grammatical constructions. We document how the image schema is realized syntactically via prepositions and how the meaning of these prepositional constructions realize semantics across different conceptual domains (Croft and Cruse 2004, Lewandowska-Tomaszczyk 2010). We provide an analysis of the various realizations of SPG constructions in both Greek and Hebrew. We then apply the insights from this analysis to four texts that have proven difficult for translators and interpreters (Psalms 84:7 (MT 84:8/LXX 83:8), Romans 1:17, 2 Corinthians 2:16, and 2 Corinthians 3:18) to illustrate how cognitive linguistics and grammatical analysis can provide solutions to translation problems that are grounded in the language data.

If anyone would be interested in joining in to hear our presentation, you’re welcome to use the contact form below. Assuming we don’t max out the zoom call, we’ll email you the Zoom invitation:

This is an adaption of our SBL paper from a few years ago on Source-Path-Goal Constructions in Postclassical Greek. We have expanded our analysis to Hebrew and have added an addendum on translation issues. You can also watch the original paper on YouTube here: