Die kommunikatiewe funksie van humor in Galasiërs 5 : 7-15

Abstract

The objective of this study is the determination of the possible character and communi cative function of the humour in Galatians 5:12 and 15. Both Betz (1979) and Von Campenhausen (1963) identify Galatians 5:12 as a jest. However, they differ about the typifying of this jest. Betz includes Galatians 5:15 and labels it a sarcastic warning. Only Betz attempts a description of the communicative function of Galatians 5:12. This study indicates that the approaches of Von Campenhausen (1963), J6nsson (1965), Nieting (1983) and Spencer (1981) do not describe the communicative function of humour in the New Testament satisfactory. A more satisfactory approach to the description of the communicative function of Galatians 5:12 and 15 is found and adjusted, namely the inleractional model proposed by Vorster (1990). In this model the communicative function of humour is investigated from a pragmatic and rhetorica.l perspective. Since rhetoric can be used to determine the communicative function of a letter or a part of it, it is valid to ask certain questions to an epistolary text on the basis of ancient rhetoric. Therefore the following method is employed: The letter was analyzed epistolographically in order to learn in which part of it the humour appears. The communicative situation of the part in which the humour appears, is subsequently analyzed and the co-operative principles of Grice (1975) are applied to it. Proceedingly the rhetorical situation of the same section is analyzed. In chapter four this theoretical framework is used to investigate Galatians 5:7-15. This study exposes that both pragmatics and ancient rhetoric confirm Galatians 5:12 and 15 as forms of sarcastic humour. The finding is that the communicative function of vers 12 is lo persuade the readers to share the opi nion of the author regarding those who cause the confusion, and that of vers 15 to persuade the readers to cease quarrelling among themselves.