A Lengthier Treatment of Length

Title

A Lengthier Treatment of Length

Publication Type

Journal Article

Year of Publication

1996

Authors

Journal

Journal of Book of Mormon Studies

Pagination

82-97

Volume

5

Issue

2

Terms of use

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Bibliographic Citation

Abstract

Book of Mormon language frequently contains lengthy structures of rather awkward English. Some may consider these to be instances of poor grammar, weakness in writing (Ether 12:23-26), or the literary ineptness of a fraudulent author; however, I see them as potentially significant support for a translation from a Near Eastern language in an ancient American setting. Many of these lengths of awkward English parallel Semitic (and Egyptian) patterns, particularly the circumstantial or hal-clause. In response to critics of my previous proposal to that effect, this article is a lengthier treatment of these lengthy structures found in the Book of Mormon.

Language
Structure
Length

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