Gustavo Martin, «Procedural Register in the Olivet Discourse: A Functional Linguistic Approach to Mark 13», Vol. 90 (2009) 457-483
I will rely on insights from Halliday’s register theory to explain the Markan Jesus’ use of a functional variety of language I call procedural register. The identification of procedural register in the main section of the Olivet Discourse (vv. 5b-23) will be shown to reveal the rhetorical design of the discourse within a first temporal horizon, of direct relevance for the audience and addressing the disciples’ question (v. 4). The absence of procedural register in vv. 24-27 indicates the opening of a second horizon in the speech, lacking immediate impact for the audience and no longer addressing the disciples’ question.
Procedural Register in the Olivet Discourse 483
delivers this message in a crescendo of relevance and impact for his
audience that cannot be missed. Indeed, the core of this message is
delivered in a procedural register to emphasize time frames, and
associated actions and behaviors. The victimization of the disciples in
the buildup to the desolating sacrilege, matches the victimization of the
Son of Man in the passion predictions, especially the third and most
detailed one. The suffering of the disciples within the time frame of
their own lives, however, is to be compensated only when the Son of
Man comes in power in an indeterminate but certain future to gather his
elect. While Mark would have his readers focus on the first and
immediate horizon, Matthew has seen fit to remove the urgency, the
relevance and impact of the first, and focus instead on the second. The
significance of these linguistic choices for the discussion of the date of
Mark, and Matthew, cannot be missed.
Isabel Tintero 3; 2a Gustavo MARTIN
28005 Madrid, Spain
SUMMARY
I will rely on insights from Halliday’s register theory to explain the Markan Jesus’
use of a functional variety of language I call procedural register. The identification
of procedural register in the main section of the Olivet Discourse (vv. 5b-23) will
be shown to reveal the rhetorical design of the discourse within a first temporal
horizon, of direct relevance for the audience and addressing the disciples’ question
(v. 4). The absence of procedural register in vv. 24-27 indicates the opening of a
second horizon in the speech, lacking immediate impact for the audience and no
longer addressing the disciples’ question.