The Poetics of Grammar and the Metaphysics of Sound and Sign (Jerusalem Studies in Religion and Culture)

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 - i.e., 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. Contents ......Page 6 Introduction (S. La Porta and D. Shulman)......Page 8 PART ONE CREATION......Page 22 1. Creation through Hieroglyphs: The Cosmic Grammatology of Ancient Egypt (Jan Assmann)......Page 24 2. KUN—the Existence-Bestowing Word in Islamic Mysticism: A Survey of Texts on the Creative Power of Language (Sara Sviri)......Page 42 3. Adam's Naming of the Animals: Naming or Creation? (Michael E. Stone)......Page 76 4. Greek Distrust of Language (Margalit Finkelberg)......Page 88 PART TWO CULTURAL ENCODING......Page 96 5. This is no Lotus, it is a Face: Poetics as Grammar in Dandin's Investigation of the Simile (Yigal Bronner)......Page 98 6. The Performance of Writing in Western Zhou China (Martin Kern)......Page 116 7. Counseling through Enigmas: Monastic Leadership and Linguistic Techniques in Sixth-Century Gaza (Brouria Bitton-Ashkelony)......Page 184 8. Devotional, Covenantal and Yogic: Three Episodes in the Religious Use of Alphabet and Letter from a Millennium of Great Vehicle Buddhism (Dan Martin)......Page 208 PART THREE SELF-TRANSFORMATION......Page 238 9. Powers of Language in Kabbalah: Comparative Reflections (Jonathan Garb)......Page 240 10. The Poetics of Grammar in the Javano-Balinese Tradition (Thomas M. Hunter)......Page 278 11. How to Bring a Goddess into Being through Visible Sound (David Shulman)......Page 312 12. Translation and Transformation: Armenian Meditations on the Metamorphic Power of Language (Sergio La Porta)......Page 350 Index of Names ......Page 376 1. Creation Through Hieroglyphs : The Cosmic Grammatology Of Ancient Egypt / Jan Assmann -- 2. Kun -- The Existence-bestowing Word In Islamic Mysticism : A Survey Of Texts On The Creative Power Of Language / Sara Sviri -- 3. Adam's Naming Of The Animals : Naming Or Creation? / Michael E. Stone -- 4. Greek Distrust Of Language / Margalit Finkelberg -- 5. This Is No Lotus, It Is A Face : Poetics As Grammar In Dandin's Investigation Of The Simile / Yigal Bronner -- 6. The Performance Of Writing In Western Zhou China / Martin Kern -- 7. Counseling Through Enigmas : Monastic Leadership And Linguistic Techniques In Sixth-century Gaza / Brouria Bitton-ashkelony -- 8. Devotional, Covenantal And Yogic : Three Episodes In The Religious Use Of Alphabet And Letter From A Millennium Of Great Vehicle Buddhism / Dan Martin -- 9. Powers Of Language In Kabbalah : Comparative Reflections / Jonathan Garb -- 10. The Poetics Of Grammar In The Javano-balinese Tradition / Thomas M. Hunter -- 11. How To Bring A Goddess Into Being Through Visible Sound / David Shulman -- 12. Translation And Transformation : Armenian Meditations On The Metamorphic Power Of Language / Sergio La Porta. Edited By S. La Porta And D. Shulman. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.