Comments on: Whose problem is it? http://www.ntdiscourse.org/2008/12/whose-problem-is-it/ Removing the mystery from discourse grammar Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:49:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: murf http://www.ntdiscourse.org/2008/12/whose-problem-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-131 murf Sat, 13 Dec 2008 14:36:32 +0000 http://www.ntdiscourse.org/?p=285#comment-131 Speaking as a non-specialist, I can say that (to take discourse grammar as an example), the whole concept was a snoozer until I started reading your stuff, Steve, then it electrified my whole approach to the Scriptures and I now find it fascinating. Obviously, had you not made it understandable (and you do have a certain genius at that), then "you few, you happy few" could be in a little room forever endlessly debating minutiae with little to no broader impact. I suppose one can take a certain pride in superior knowledge, but if one cannot translate one's work for a broader audience and demonstrate it's relevance for the masses, then one's books will be gathering dust in the backbin of some library in short order. Speaking as a non-specialist, I can say that (to take discourse grammar as an example), the whole concept was a snoozer until I started reading your stuff, Steve, then it electrified my whole approach to the Scriptures and I now find it fascinating. Obviously, had you not made it understandable (and you do have a certain genius at that), then “you few, you happy few” could be in a little room forever endlessly debating minutiae with little to no broader impact.

I suppose one can take a certain pride in superior knowledge, but if one cannot translate one’s work for a broader audience and demonstrate it’s relevance for the masses, then one’s books will be gathering dust in the backbin of some library in short order.

]]> By: Carl Conrad http://www.ntdiscourse.org/2008/12/whose-problem-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-130 Carl Conrad Sat, 13 Dec 2008 12:48:12 +0000 http://www.ntdiscourse.org/?p=285#comment-130 There is no question that clear writing is essential to accessibility; eloquence would be even better. A case in point: Werner Jaeger's _Paideia_ is a major interpretation of ancient Greek cultural history; the German original is heavy and awkward, while Gilbert Highet's English-language version is a work of classic eloquence. But other important factors affect accessibility also. One is price: Porter's major work on aspect, even in paperback, costs over $100. Chrys Caragounis' very important diachronic perspective on NT Greek was originally marketed as a hardback at $220; a clearer English formulation might make it all the more accessible. I think that marketing can give a well-written book a grand headstart even if the book is questionably suited for its stated purpose. Successful promulgation of important scholarship involves quite a few factors that work heavily in favor of some works and to the detriment of others that may be of at least as great importance. There is no question that clear writing is essential to accessibility; eloquence would be even better. A case in point: Werner Jaeger’s _Paideia_ is a major interpretation of ancient Greek cultural history; the German original is heavy and awkward, while Gilbert Highet’s English-language version is a work of classic eloquence. But other important factors affect accessibility also. One is price: Porter’s major work on aspect, even in paperback, costs over $100. Chrys Caragounis’ very important diachronic perspective on NT Greek was originally marketed as a hardback at $220; a clearer English formulation might make it all the more accessible. I think that marketing can give a well-written book a grand headstart even if the book is questionably suited for its stated purpose. Successful promulgation of important scholarship involves quite a few factors that work heavily in favor of some works and to the detriment of others that may be of at least as great importance.

]]> By: Con Campbell http://www.ntdiscourse.org/2008/12/whose-problem-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Con Campbell Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:01:27 +0000 http://www.ntdiscourse.org/?p=285#comment-96 Dear Steve, Thanks for your helpful thoughts about these matters. I whole-heartedly agree with your concerns. As a side issue (and not wanting to further add focus upon myself!), I think it is slightly ironic of some within academia, who are happy to cricitze my views based on my basics book, without having read, so it seems, my two monographs, which are for specialists. And so, as a result, I've heard a series of cheap shots about my views, which, had they read my full argumentation, would not be tenable. As an example, I like Porter's Idioms book, but when I've engaged him on various things, I've used his monograph, not his student book, for obvious reasons. It would be nice for others to extend the same courtesy when engaging this debate on technical grounds. Having said that, I'm glad that the basics book has stirred up interest again, and I think a forum, as you mention, would be a welcome development. Thanks, Con Dear Steve,

Thanks for your helpful thoughts about these matters. I whole-heartedly agree with your concerns.

As a side issue (and not wanting to further add focus upon myself!), I think it is slightly ironic of some within academia, who are happy to cricitze my views based on my basics book, without having read, so it seems, my two monographs, which are for specialists. And so, as a result, I’ve heard a series of cheap shots about my views, which, had they read my full argumentation, would not be tenable.

As an example, I like Porter’s Idioms book, but when I’ve engaged him on various things, I’ve used his monograph, not his student book, for obvious reasons. It would be nice for others to extend the same courtesy when engaging this debate on technical grounds. Having said that, I’m glad that the basics book has stirred up interest again, and I think a forum, as you mention, would be a welcome development.

Thanks,
Con

]]> By: Mike http://www.ntdiscourse.org/2008/12/whose-problem-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-95 Mike Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:58:59 +0000 http://www.ntdiscourse.org/?p=285#comment-95 Oh and when the book comes to you, I'll bring you my copy of Campbell. Oh and when the book comes to you, I’ll bring you my copy of Campbell.

]]> By: Esoteric Scholarship: Linguistics and the New Testament « ΕΝ ΕΦΕΣΩ http://www.ntdiscourse.org/2008/12/whose-problem-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-94 Esoteric Scholarship: Linguistics and the New Testament « ΕΝ ΕΦΕΣΩ Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:42:07 +0000 http://www.ntdiscourse.org/?p=285#comment-94 [...] a comment » There are dozens of thoughts that popped into my head as I read Steve’s followup post on scholarship. His main point is simply that it is the specialist’s responsibility to make their work [...] [...] a comment » There are dozens of thoughts that popped into my head as I read Steve’s followup post on scholarship. His main point is simply that it is the specialist’s responsibility to make their work [...]

]]> By: Mike http://www.ntdiscourse.org/2008/12/whose-problem-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Mike Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:13:35 +0000 http://www.ntdiscourse.org/?p=285#comment-93 Steve, I'm going to pick this up on my blog - just to let you know. Steve, I’m going to pick this up on my blog – just to let you know.

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