Presupposition and [E]motion

Roque N. Albuquerque is a full-time faculty member at the University for International Integration of the Afro-Brazilian Lusophony (UNILAB) in the Institute of Linguistics and Literature in Ceará State. He holds a Ph.D. in New Testament from Central Baptist Seminary in Minneapolis and in Language Studies from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). He has taught Greek and New Testament for the past twenty years. His postdoctoral research is in the Greek comedy of Aristophanes with Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

List of Figures – List of Abbreviations – Preface – Introduction – Participle as Semantic Presupposition – Greek Participles: Modulation Versus Modality and Mood – Functions of the Participle – Semantics of the Upgraded Participle – Examination of New Testament Examples of the Upgraded Participle – Conclusion – Appendix – Bibliography – Reference Index – Subject Index – Name Index.

“For those of us who teach Greek, we are blessed by God to live at a time when so many wonderful insights into the structure and function of Koiné Greek have been discovered. This ‘embarrassment of riches’ continues with this present study of the Greek participle by Roque N. Albuquerque. The insights provided here, especially in relation to the upgraded participle (‘attendant circumstance’ as it has traditionally been labeled), are so helpful in correcting previous assumptions and mistakes made in interpreting the numerous places in the New Testament where this function of the participle occurs. There is no doubt in my mind that our theological students will benefit immensely from this study, which will in turn ultimately improve the preaching and teaching of God’s Word in our churches. And this blessing will be the greatest of them all. So I thank the Lord for Roque Albuquerque and the work he has labored to produce for the glory of our great God.—Jon Pratt, VP of Academics and Professor of New Testament, Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Minneapolis

“Roque N. Albuquerque has written a detailed, data-rich, clear, and meticulously nuanced work on a very specific grammatical phenomenon: the anarthrous aorist participle in the nominative case followed by a verb. The participle is ‘upgraded’ pragmatically to the mood of the main verb. The author makes a careful distinction between semantics and pragmatics, and follows the Hallidayan systemic linguistics school for his overall treatment. Interactions with others are respectful and irenic, with helpful critiques throughout. The ubiquitous constructions in which the upgraded participle occur in the New Testament have significant implications for the exegesis of the text. The author has shown repeatedly the value of syntax, semantics, and pragmatics for an accurate study of the sacred text. Albuquerque’s monograph is a major advance over previous treatments of this construction; his study is itself an upgrade over previous works. It will be valuable for linguists, grammarians, exegetes, and even theologians.”—Daniel B. Wallace, Senior Research Professor, New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

“Roque N. Albuquerque skillfully analyzes what the authors of the Greek New Testament intend to communicate when they begin a sentence with an adverbial participle before the main clause.”—Andy Naselli, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and New Testament, Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis

“This research is of great relevance for both teaching and discourse practice in every area that involves humanities and language studies, especially considering that within textual analysis related to semantic features, presupposition is the decisive element to the utterance of the desired meaning by the speaker. Using Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) Roque N. Albuquerque draws us into a fascinating ideational world of the Greek participles.”—Cláudia Carioca, Director of the Language and Literature Institute, University for the International Integration of the Afro-Brazilian Lusophony (UNILAB)