The poetics of grammar and the metaphysics of sound and sign / edited by S. La Porta and D. Shulman.

• Superior document: Jerusalem studies in religion and culture, v. 6
• TeilnehmendeR: La Porta, S.; Shulman, David Dean, 1949-
• Year of Publication: 2007
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Jerusalem studies in religion and culture ; v. 6.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (383 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

This book examines the seemingly universal notion of a grammatical cosmos. Individual essays discuss how many of the great civilizations provide cognitive maps that emerge from a metaphysical linguistics in which sounds, syllables and other signs form the constructive elements of reality. The essays address cross-cultural issues such as: Why does grammar serve as a template in these cultures? How are such templates culturally contoured? To what end are they applied — id est, what can one do with grammar — , and how does it work upon the world? The book is divided into three sections that deal with the metaphysics of linguistic creation; practices of encoding and decoding as a means of deciphering reality; and language in the widest sense as a medium for self- and cultural transformation. Contributors include: Jan Assman, Sara Sviri, Michael Stone, M. Finkelberg, Yigal Bronner, Martin Kern, Brouria Bitton-Ashkelony, Dan Martin, Jonathan Garb, Tom Hunter, David Shulman, and Sergio La Porta.

Table of Contents

Preliminary Materials / S. La Porta and D. Shulman -- Introduction / S. La Porta and D. Shulman -- Creation Through Hieroglyphs: The Cosmic Grammatology Of Ancient Egypt / Jan Assmann -- Kun-The Existence-Bestowing Word In Islamic Mysticism: A Survey Of Texts On The Creative Power Of Language / Sara Sviri -- Adam’s Naming Of The Animals: Naming Or Creation? / Michael E. Stone -- Greek Distrust Of Language / Margalit Finkelberg -- This Is No Lotus, It Is A Face: Poetics As Grammar In Daṇḍin’s Investigation Of The Simile / Yigal Bronner -- The Performance Of Writing In Western Zhou China / Martin Kern -- Counseling Through Enigmas: Monastic Leadership And Linguistic Techniques In Sixth-Century Gaza / Brouria Bitton-Ashkelony -- Devotional, Covenantal And Yogic: Three Episodes In The Religious Use Of Alphabet And Letter From A Millennium Of Great Vehicle Buddhism / Dan Martin -- Powers Of Language In Kabbalah: Comparative Reflections / Jonathan Garb -- The Poetics Of Grammar In The Javano-Balinese Tradition / Thomas M. Hunter -- How To Bring A Goddess Into Being Through Visible Sound / David Shulman -- Translation And Transformation: Armenian Meditations On The Metamorphic Power Of Language -- Index Of Names / S. La Porta and D. Shulman.