Hearing Christ Proclaimed: Mapping the Aural Features of John 1:19–51

Summary, in English

In the ancient world, writings were routinely delivered orally by trained lectors. An important task for the lector was to give voice to the silent, close-knit lines of scriptio continua manuscripts. This was made possible by the fact that the oral structure and aural character were encoded into the text.



This paper analyzes the sound structure of John 1:19–51 and identifies what aural features would have been prominent when it was read aloud. By applying the emerging methodology of sound mapping (introduced by Margaret Ellen Lee and Bernard Brandon Scott) to the first chapter of the Gospel of John, it intends to demonstrate how the sounded text varies and makes some passages stand out aurally at the expense of others. Analyzing the aural features encoded in the text, e.g. variations in tempo, smoothness, and rhythm, it will also point out that some of the Christological phrases are highlighted in a very conspicuous way and consider what this entails for the whole pericope.

• Author: Dan Nässelqvist
• Department/s: Biblical Studies
• Publishing year: 2011
• Language: English
• Document type: Conference paper
• Topic: Religious Studies
• Keywords: New Testament; Gospel of John; Rhetoric; Performance; Orality; Sound Analysis
• Conference name: Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting 2011
• Conference date: 2011-11-19 - 2011-11-22
• Status: Unpublished