A Linguistic Analysis of the Book of Nahum Part 4 NIV Pronouns, Explainers and Communication Language.

Following on from yesterday, we continue Chapter 1 in verses 12 and 13 where the Lord says, “Although 'I' have afflicted you, Judah, 'I' will afflict you no more. Now 'I' will break their yoke from your neck and tear your shackles away”

The pronoun usage is strong. It demonstrates commitment via the pronoun 'I.' God doesn’t distance himself from what he’s done. This is very personal. He promises to free them.

The possessive pronoun “I” gives us responsibility and shows a person is admitting to undertaking a certain act. The lack of a pronoun “I” in a statement is an indication that a person hasn’t done what he would have us to believe he did.

We can also see consistency in the possessive pronouns people use. If people are telling the truth, they will use the same possessive pronouns throughout their story. When people change their pronouns or possessive pronouns, this is a likely indicator of deception.

A missing “I’ indicates there is tension and a lack of commitment to a statement. A deceptive person will avoid using the pronouns, “I, me and my”

Throughout the book of Nahum, the possessive pronouns and pronouns are consistent indicating truthfulness.

In verse 14 it says, “I will destroy the images and idols “that” are in the temple of your gods”

This provides a picture of how the Ninevites do not trust in the Lord and reiterates what was said earlier with “this” being close and “that” being distant. The Lord is distancing himself from the temple of their gods.

This theme is repeated in Chapter 2 v 7 “It is decreed “that” Nineveh be exiled and carried away”

This is expected in context of what is being written and is truthful.

Earlier in Chapter 1 v 2 we saw the word “vengeance” repeated, making it important and sensitive but we didn’t at that time know the reason why. We noted to look ahead to see if there was any justification for an “infliction of punishment for a wrong committed”.

The reason for this becomes apparent in Chapter 3 v 4 where it says, “all 'because' of the wanton lust of a prostitute, alluring, the mistress of sorceries, who enslaved nations by her prostitution and peoples by her witchcraft”.

If no justification was given, we would ask, why?

In Linguistic Analysis, words such as, “so, since, to, therefore, because” indicate the highest level of sensitivity found in a statement. These can be termed as 'explainers.' It here that a person has the need to say why something is going to happen or has happened. In most situations, this is the heart of the matter and the solving of a case. This area likely contains the most critical information.

For example, if we asked, “What happened?” And Nahum replied, “The Lord took vengeance and was full of wrath 'because' of the wanton lust of a prostitute…” then what he said would be highly sensitive as he was asked, “What happened” not “Why?”

The need to explain why something happened is highly sensitive as it goes beyond the boundary of the question being asked. People often don’t want to be asked the question, “Why?” as they may potentially reveal sensitive information, so they give an answer in advance to a question that wasn’t asked, in the hope of avoiding the 'Why' question altogether.

The psychological reason for this is to beat to beat someone to the punch and say, 'I've already told you,' if subsequently asked. If we want to find key sensitive information, we would do well to target our questions to the areas containing 'explainers.'

In context, this shows that Chapter 3 v 4 is highly sensitive and justifies the previously repeated words making it truthful. It’s expected.

In Chapter 3 v 7 the passage reads, “All who see you will flee from you and 'say' “Nineveh is in ruins, who will mourn for her?”

The word 'say' is soft communication language, which in context can be unexpected, suggesting there will be little concern. If people were concerned, a stronger tone would be expected.

When the communication language used doesn't reflect what is being described, we note the the sensitivity and consider why:

Instead of mourning, people would rejoice at the nations fall.

In our conclusion tomorrow, we will consider word choice, repetition and a change of language.