TY - JOUR TI - An 'I' for an 'I' DO - https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T35141J3 PY - 2016 AB - This thesis is a holistic approach to understanding the first-person (1), common (c), singular (sg), independent (ind.) pronoun (pro.) in Hebrew. Unlike the second and third-person pronouns that have two two forms which are marked for gender, the two forms of 1csg ind. pro. are not marked for gender, making the distinction between the two forms an anomaly. This thesis will seek to understand this anomaly diachronically in the first two chapters and synchronically in the final two chapters. Diachronically, it traces the development of the two forms from proto-Semitic (PS) and provides a postulation on how the two forms developed and why both persisted in Hebrew. It also traces the development of the two forms within in Hebrew providing perspective on the role of the pronoun as a delimiting factor for the different periods of Hebrew. Synchronically, it examines various scholastic efforts to rectify the seemingly indiscriminate usage of the two forms in biblical prose. It also considers the insights that non-traditional grammar offers in determining the difference of usage of the two forms. Ultimately, while the thesis does not set forward a framework for discriminating between the usages of the two forms in biblical prose, it evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of previous methods and explores new avenues of insight. KW - Jewish Studies KW - Hebrew language--Grammar LA - eng ER -