欽定訳聖書におけるthere構文

抄録

In this paper I examine three properties of the existential there sentences found in the Authorized Version of the Bible (1611) or the other versions of the Bible which were published in the 1500s. The first property is the there insertion. This operation is usually divided into two components: the postposing of the subject and the insertion of the pleonastic there. But in Biblical English we find that the latter operation does not take place where it is required in Present-Day English: amonge them that are borne of women, arose not a greater then John the Baptist. (Matt.11.11 (Great)) This type of existential sentence is an older form, which was gradually replaced by the 'new' form in which there is manifested, according to Breivik (1983). The second point is the position of the deep structure subject of the existential sentences. In addition to the positions which correspond to those of Present-Day English, in Biblical English the deep structure subject occupies various positions (rather freely)in the verb phrase. We should say that Biblical English is comparable to the English of Sir Thomas Malory rather than to that of Shakespeare in this respect. The third point is the relative order of the 'modal auxiliary verb' and the deep structure subject of the existential sentence. In Biblical English we not only find the pattern which is frequently met with now: there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets. (Matt.24.24 (AV)) but also we find another pattern: there shall no sign be given it. (Luke 11.29(AV)). This shows that at least two positions are available when the modal auxiliary verbs are involved although there are some factors operative here. Furthermore the fact that the former pattern is possible seems to suggest that the 'modal auxiliary verbs' have not been established as such in Biblical English.