tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027211880180833573.post7915148783832458695..comments2009-07-01T16:19:33.314-07:00c. jay crisostomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798662100345252363cjay.crisostomo@gmail.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027211880180833573.post-29881575339753708862009-07-01T16:19:33.314-07:002009-07-01T16:19:33.314-07:00Brooke,<br />I can&#39;t say that I agree with your findings. True, if you search for instances of ויאמר, there do seem to be a large number of &quot;commands, entreaties, and questions.&quot; But, for instance, a search for לאמר gives you direct speech without those contingencies and with consistent SVO order.c. jay crisostomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798662100345252363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027211880180833573.post-52748766720959432582009-06-30T06:44:08.249-07:002009-06-30T06:44:08.249-07:00Jay, when I try to look for examples of direct speech on my own, I find that much of it either 1) involves complicating factors that call for special consideration, such as commands, entreaties, and questions; or 2) is itself so narrative in style that it tends toward the high-narrative VSO order (e.g., Gen 24:34ff).<br /><br />Maybe I mean to be asking this: does the distinction between narrative and direct speech largely overlap that between “narrative of past events” and “future/present narrative and volitive speech”? I have in mind the series over at Balshanut that you reference in your post.anummahttp://anumma.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com