Save

Deferential Self-Reference in the Book of Samuel

In: Vetus Testamentum
Author:
Yoo-ki Kim Seoul Women’s University ykim@swu.ac.kr

Search for other papers by Yoo-ki Kim in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Download Citation Get Permissions

Access options

Get access to the full article by using one of the access options below.

Institutional Login

Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials

Login via Institution

Purchase

Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

$40.00

In the Hebrew Bible, the self-deferential phrase is used to save the addressee’s face in conversation. It can occupy virtually every position that the first-person pronouns can take. However, it does not occur consistently in a given speech. This article examines the use of self-deferential phrases in the book of Samuel, especially in the dialogues that involve David. It demonstrates that the occurrence of self-deferential phrases depends on the judgment and attitude of the speaker toward the situation of the conversation, not only on the status gap between the interlocutors. The self-deferential phrase in the book of Samuel, as an indicator of the speaker’s state of mind toward the addressee, serves as a dynamic signal that provides readers with an important clue about the narrator’s understanding of the situation.

Content Metrics

All Time Past 365 days Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 233 55 4
Full Text Views 189 6 0
PDF Views & Downloads 67 3 0