Synchronic Reading Research Articles

Feet in the Wilderness, Eyes on the Promised Land

ABSTRACT The book of Deuteronomy addresses Israel in the wilderness, poised to enter the promised land. The people have not yet arrived in the promised land, since they are still “on the other side of the Jordan” (Deut 1:1). But they have already wandered for forty years, and they now stand ready to enter the land, in what David M. Allen has described as a “Deuteronomic posture” of hopeful expectation. I examine how Deuteronomy itself captures and communicates something essential about the experience of the people of God, something that it makes available to future generations of faithful readers. After supplementing a synchronic reading of Deuteronomy with later targumic interpretations of the work, I look at instances of the same dynamic in late Second Temple literature, including 1 Maccabees, the Dead Sea Scrolls, 1 Corinthians, and Hebrews. Given the wide range of texts that adopt a Deuteronomic posture, I close with a treatment of the role a “Deuteronomic posture” might play in twenty-first-century conversations about Christian life in a post-Christendom world.

Schelling vs. Hegel: Negativity in inversion

Paper explores the controversial relationship between Schelling and Hegel with respect to the role of negativity. By rejecting the common framework, according to which, one of the authors is usually presented as either advancing or preceding the other, it argues for an alternative synchronic reading which approaches this relationship not in terms of surpassing, subordination or perversion but rather presents it as an inversion . By discussing (a) the negativity of reflection, (b) the ontological interpretation of the transcendental object and (c) the application of dialectics, it proposes an amphibolic elaboration of commonly shared presuppositions—a movement following a similar path yet in converse directions, which in its own turn challenges our common understanding of German idealism. Keywords: Schelling, Hegel, inversion, concept, negativity, reflection, dialectics.

The Visible Aspect of Things: Towards a Synchronic Reading of Donald Barthelme1

This essay seeks to address a distinct lacuna in criticism regarding the American author Donald Barthelme, one comprised of two dimensions. First, there is a scarcity of analysis of fragments in works apart from Snow White. Second, almost no attention has been paid to the formal intricacies of Barthelme’s fragments, nor to why their visible aspects might be significant. Arguing that Barthelme is an unusually visually-minded writer, this essay examines the use of fragments in a range of his short stories. A Saussurean framework is used to argue that Barthelme’s writing demands we shift the act of reading away from its diachronic conventions and towards a synchronic approach. I analyze such apparently unremarkable textual aspects as dashes, hyphens, and lists, showing that they are used by Barthelme in a way that demands a visual mode of reading. In questioning the significance of causality, this mode of reading has wider implications insofar as it challenges the typical view that the short story should be approached as a form that is driven by narrative.

Wieczerza Pańska – „pamiątka” Chrystusowej męki, śmierci i zmartwychwstania jako ekspiacyjnej Ofiary „za wielu” i Ofiary Nowego Przymierza (1 Kor 11,23-27; Łk 22,19-20)

Research on the role of oral tradition (orality) in the process of Gospel and Pauline letters composition provides a basis for the synchronic reading of the traditions on the Last Supper (Matt 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:14-14-20; 1 Cor 11:23-26). The author, taking into consideration the data contained in the mentioned textual traditions, seeks an answer to the question of what Jesus recommended to his disciples in the Cenacle by saying: “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor 11:24). The author enters into a polemic with the latest theories according to which Jesus intended to celebrate the Last Supper as a “covenant sacrifice”, precisely speaking a “feast of covenant”. Through the analysis of the formulas pronounced over bread and wine, which take into consideration the texts on the suffering and death of Jahwe’s Servant (Isa 53), the author seeks to demonstrate that Jesus applied to his death the sense of the sacrifice of expiation which also establishes the New Covenant. To interpret the formulas only in light of “covenant sacrifice/feast” means to radically diminish the meaning of the prophetic words and gestures of Jesus from the Last Supper.

Synchronic and Diachronic readings on Jeremiah scroll: in search of a methodology for Jeremianic Studies Part II

Synchronic and Diachronic readings on Jeremiah scroll: in search of a methodology for Jeremianic Studies Part II

Is Hezekiah a Success or a Failure? The Literary Function of Isaiah's Prediction at the End of the Royal Narratives in the Book of Isaiah

Recent studies on both the redactional and literary unity of Isaiah have emphasized the pivotal role of Isaiah 36–39 as a transitional bridge between the two major parts of the book of Isaiah. More specifically, a growing number of commentators have understood that Hezekiah is cast as an ideal role model and remains exemplary even in Isaiah 39. However, this interpretation of Hezekiah as an idealized king is an oversimplification and does not recognize the complexity of the character of Hezekiah portrayed in these chapters. The purpose of this article is to propose a synchronic reading of how Isaiah's prediction at the end of the royal narratives in the book of Isaiah plays a key role in providing a coherent evaluation of Hezekiah as a blemished monarch who used to be a success but has become a failure.

The value of the relationship: An intertextual reading of Song of Songs and Lamentations

For the most part, scholars interested in biblical “intertextuality” have divided themselves into two categories: those interested in a reader-oriented approach and those utilizing an author-oriented approach. The reader-oriented approach is a synchronic reading focused primarily on the reader’s perception of the text. By contrast, the author-oriented approach is a diachronic reading concerned with discerning the authorial intent of an intertextual connection. Proponents of an author-oriented approach accuse reader-oriented scholars with eisegesis, whereas those interested in reader-oriented studies claim that the other side runs the risk of speculation by focusing on something as elusive as authorial intent. An appropriate method or approach for studying intertextuality depends on the two (or more) texts in question. This article will examine the benefits of utilizing the best method for the right texts. In some cases, a reader-oriented approach brings to light a connection that might not be found if an author-oriented approach took precedence. In order to substantiate this proposal this article will explore the intertextual connections between Lam 4:1–10 and Song 5:10–16. The lexical parallels within these two passages are distinct and dense. Their unique use of color imagery and their utilization of rare Hebrew words create a purposeful point of connection. Whereas an author-oriented approach is nearly impossible in this case (owing to the difficulty of dating), a reader-oriented approach reveals a deep and profound new meaning for each text.

The strong and the fat heart in the Old Testament: Does God hearten the heart?

This article looks at the different Hebrew terms used in connection with the stubbornness of the heart. Is there a difference between “making the heart strong” and “making the heart fat”? And what other verbs are used in these contexts where God is active in the hearts of human beings? It also asks how these divine actions are related to the actions of the respective humans. To do this, we will first look at the anthropological meaning of the term “heart” in the Old Testament and then relate this meaning to the different verbs used for God’s actions. The article starts with the assumption of a synchronic reading of the Old Testament and also tries to answer the question of whether or not there is also some change or development of the terms used for God’s working in the hearts of human beings throughout the different books of the Old Testament.

The Effect of Four Different Approaches to Parent-Child Reading on Young Chinese Children’s Reading

Forty families with four- to five-year-old Chinese children were chosen as experiment participants and equally divided into four groups for an eight-week parent-child reading experiment in different reading modes. (1) Groups A, B, and C read one of three kinds of Chinese-English audio bilingual picture books respectively: touch reading books, electronic books, and printed books + CDs, 30 minutes per day with their parents in the approach of Early Synchronous Bilingual Reading (ESBR). After the eight-week experiment, children participants cultivated good habits of and interest in reading and their reading comprehension, retelling and expression competence were improved significantly. Performance of each group in weekly reading time and frequency, proportion of recognized Chinese and English words was A>B>C>>D and differed significantly ( p <0.01). The results show that reading bilingualism synchronously is effective and economical, and it not only enhanced children’s bilingual competence, but broadened their multicultural international horizon and developed their creative thinking and leadership. (2) Group D kept their original family reading mode and did not progress significantly in reading habits and test indicators ( p -value=0.5-1). (3) Determinants of reading effect are parents’ awareness and choice of reading material, mode, frequency and time. The experiment results suggest that parents can choose bilingual picture books, cultivate their preschool children’s reading habits, and develop their children’s bilingual reading, listening, and speaking competence through interactive parent-child reading. Keywords: Audio bilingual picture books; early parent-child reading; approach of ESBR; comparative experiment

The Defilement of Dina: Uncontrolled Passions, Textual Violence, and the Search for Moral Foundations

The story of Dinah’s violation in Genesis 34 has elicited radically different evaluations among exegetes. The present article attributes these divergent readings to the existence of distinct voices or moral positions in the text, particularly in relation to the issue of intermarriage. Beginning with a synchronic literary and ideological analysis of the narrative, the present reading will examine whether the multi-vocal state of the text should be best understood as an expression of ambivalence, of redactional history, or otherwise. A key tool in this analysis is the moral foundations theory developed by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt and his colleagues. This theory can help shed light on the ideological tendencies and rhetorical techniques reflected in this text, particularly the significance of the repeated references to the defilement of Dinah. This synchronic reading will also suggest the basis for a diachronic analysis of the story, demonstrating how narrative features of the final form of the text offer clues to the scribal tendencies involved in editing it. Finally, these literary, historical, and psychological dimensions are integrated to better contextualize the paradoxical relationship between defilement and ethnicity in the story.

Leituras Sincrônica e Diacrônica do rolo de Jeremias: em busca de uma metodologia para estudos de Jeremias

Leituras Sincrônica e Diacrônica do rolo de Jeremias: em busca de uma metodologia para estudos de Jeremias

Social Cohesion Potential of Pendalungan Communities Toward Urban Space Integration in Jember

Jember downtown has pendalungan social phenomenon as a form of cultural assimilation resulting hybrid of Javanese and Madurese as a local community identity. Pendalungan communities occupy in kampongs in the melting pot with limited space that evokes the activity collectively as the potential of social cohesion. The result of previous studies on hybrid pendalungan only terms of sociology and culture. Based on the above phenomenon, this research is study about social cohesion potential of Pendalungan community at urban space integration in Jember. The research objective was to determine the specific characteristic of pendhalungan community as a potential of social cohesion and to know the concept of the urban space integration of pendhalungan community. The research approach used in this study was qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative research approach was used by reading the urban through synchronic reading to explore the potential of social cohesion of pendalungan community culture which has implications in the formation of urban space. The space integration was presented using the access graph. The result showed that the urban space integration had average height and the dominant form of asymmetry distribution. The formation of urban space in the melting pot no separation between forms a continuous space and forms a break up space, so is created social cohesion. This conditions strengthen the high value of the space integration supported its social cohesion potential

Approaches to the “Chosen Place”: Accessing a Biblical Concept.By Rannfrid I. Thelle.

T he theory of a Deuteronomistic History has come under sustained criticism in recent years, and Thelle’s book is a further attempt to consign Noth’s theory to history. Rather than proposing an alternative diachronic theory, Thelle seeks to read the history’s constituent books on their own terms with a synchronic reading stategy. This attempt to look with ‘fresh eyes’ requires disentangling the concept of the chosen place from three other issues: dating biblical books, Josiah’s reform, and the idea of a deuteronomistic school and editing. Thelle’s key observation is that Deuteronomy’s idea of the chosen place should not be harmonized with Kings’ idea of the chosen city. In Deuteronomy the chosen place is the centralized location where cultic activity takes place, whilst in Kings the chosen city is associated with privileged divine protection and the unique position of David. These key observations lead Thelle to develop two lines of argument. First, she argues that Deuteronomy’s legislation on cultic matters, such as sacrifice, Sabbath, and the festivals, brings it closer to the rest of the Tetrateuch than is usually recognized. Since Deuteronomy says very little about crucial cultic issues, such as a sanctuary and an altar, these can justly be assumed from the previous books, which say far more about these matters. Secondly, Thelle argues that Deuteronomy’s relationship to the Former Prophets is rather more tangential than a theory of a Deuteronomistic History would suggest. An analysis of 2 Kings 22–3 does not support the view that Josiah undertook a reform inspired by Deuteronomy, and an examination of the presentation of kingship in the Former Prophets highlights a number of differences from Deuteronomy’s law of the king.

Synchronous Reading, Processing and Outputting of sensor Data in Real-Time

Synchronous Reading, Processing and Outputting of sensor Data in Real-Time

Social Origins of Rhythm? Synchrony and Temporal Regularity in Human Vocalization

Humans have a capacity to perceive and synchronize with rhythms. This is unusual in that only a minority of other species exhibit similar behavior. Study of synchronizing species (particularly anurans and insects) suggests that simultaneous signal production by different individuals may play a critical role in the development of regular temporal signaling. Accordingly, we investigated the link between simultaneous signal production and temporal regularity in our own species. Specifically, we asked whether inter-individual synchronization of a behavior that is typically irregular in time, speech, could lead to evenly-paced or “isochronous” temporal patterns. Participants read nonsense phrases aloud with and without partners, and we found that synchronous reading resulted in greater regularity of durational intervals between words. Comparison of same-gender pairings showed that males and females were able to synchronize their temporal speech patterns with equal skill. These results demonstrate that the shared goal of synchronization can lead to the development of temporal regularity in vocalizations, suggesting that the origins of musical rhythm may lie in cooperative social interaction rather than in sexual selection.

THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS FOR MACULAR DISEASES SHOW CHARACTERISTIC EFFECTS ON NEAR AND DISTANCE VISUAL FUNCTION

To compare therapy-induced reading and distance visual acuity (dVA) increases in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and uveitis-associated cystoid macular edema. This longitudinal study included 68 treatment-naive eyes: 39 subfoveal nAMD eyes with disrupted photoreceptor layers treated with monthly ranibizumab and 29 uveitis-associated cystoid macular edema eyes with intact photoreceptor layer treated with 1 triamcinolone injection. Patients were examined with high-definition optical coherence tomography, Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study dVA (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution), reading acuity (logRADscore), and maximum reading speed (words per minute) over 3 months of therapy. In uveitis-associated cystoid macular edema, logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution and logRADscore improved 1 day post treatment, from 0.49 ± 0.28 to 0.39 ± 0.3 (P = 0.018) and 0.71 ± 0.53 to 0.56 ± 0.49 (P = 0.012), respectively. In nAMD, logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution improved 1 week after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy from 0.59 ± 0.29 to 0.49 ± 0.24 (P = 0.002), with no change in logRADscore. One month after treatment, logRADscore improved from 1.09 ± 0.65 to 0.90 ± 0.60 (P = 0.002). In uveitis-associated cystoid macular edema, the recovery course of reading and dVA was comparable, and in nAMD, reading acuity recovery was delayed. Irrespective of disease, a small reduction in dVA resulted in a larger reading acuity decrease. Cystoid macular edema resolution was associated with rapid synchronous reading and dVA improvement, whereas nAMD was followed by faster recovery of distance than reading acuity. In both conditions, reading acuity expressed by critical angular resolution was more suppressed by active disease and recovered relatively more than distance acuity. These discrepancies indicate that reading acuity might be a more sensitive measure for vision decrease in macular diseases than dVA. Reading acuity seems to be an important adjunct assessing intravitreal therapy efficacy.

Design of Highly Efficient Multi-Point&amp;Multi-Channel Temperature Acquisition System

To achieve a high speed multi-point temperature acquisition with a low cost,this paper used the methods as following:In the aspect of hardware,adopted “multi-point&amp;multi-channel” structure(detailed content in main text);In software aspect,by a parallel synchronous fast reading algorithm, this achieved efficient processing.The program learned from the operating system interrupt algorithm to optimize the interrupt program. By experiment, the system achieved the effect of concurrent reading, realized the efficient and precise system operation.

The Sins of Josiah and Hezekiah: A Synchronic Reading of the Final Chapters of Kings

The double redaction theory of the Deuteronomistic History has its roots in the claim that there are logical discontinuities in the narrative from Manasseh to the end of 2 Kings. This article argues, however, that it is possible to see a coherent narrative in a synchronic reading of the final chapters of Kings once we recognize them as presenting a series of lessons to the Davidide in exile. Among the important lessons in 2 Kings 18–25 for Jehoiachin to learn is that, although he has received a negative evaluation from the narrative, the past sins on the parts of Josiah (for initially continuing Manasseh's sin) and Hezekiah (for initially failing to trust Yhwh to deliver Jerusalem) are ignored by Yhwh once they act rightly, and so are erased from their evaluations. It is still possible for Jehoiachin to earn an impeccable evaluation himself if he trusts Yhwh to deliver as Hezekiah eventually learned to do, and leads the nation in repentance as Josiah eventually did.

Chronologies of a (sub)urbanized territory: Reimagining (sub)urbanization processes in southwest Flanders, Belgium

Chronologies of a (Sub)urbanized Territory explores how the depth and scope of an atlas can be increased through a careful engineering of the interplay between its constituent maps. This research aims to develop a structure for an atlas that can include the plural and often very diverse historical processes affecting the territory without jeopardizing the coherence of the atlas as a whole. Chronologies of a (Sub)urbanized Territory explores the perpetual reproduction of the heavily (sub)urbanized territory in southwest Flanders. The atlas is comprised of three diachronic map series: Frames, A Classic Chronology and Interrelations. Each series pictures the passage of time in a specific way and therefore offers a distinct ‘take' on the history of the region. Perpendicular to these three diachronic map series, synchronic readings of the territory can be composed: the variation between the three series in terms of scale, and in the categories that are displayed, enable the reader to gain a multi-angled perspective on specific spatial phenomena at delimited periods of time. The different components of the atlas, and how they interrelate, are clarified by a metamap. The metamap is not merely a top-down organizational tool, but is intended to form the basis from which the reader can start to construct his or her own interpretations of the territory. ‘Phenomena intersect, to see but one is to see nothing.’ Victor Hugo (as cited in Jarvis 1997 )

The Rise, Fall, and Renovation of the House of Gesenius: Diachronic Methods, Synchronic Readings, and the Debate over Isaiah 36–39 and 2 Kings 18–20

The parallel Sennacherib narratives in Isaiah 36–39 and 2 Kings 18–20 have long intrigued scholars. Although for the better part of the past two hundred years the diachronic methods of historical criticism have defined the exegetical landscape, the recent rise of narrative criticism and its emphasis on the synchronic reading of the text have called many of the previously held views into question. This article will provide a brief overview and critique of both the exegetical issues stemming from the traditional historical-critical methods and of the more recent proposals put forth by scholars like Smelik and Seitz, who argue for a more synchronic understanding of these two texts. This overview reveals a gradual evolution in biblical scholarship, in which the recent synchronic narrative methods are being recognized as aids and correctives to, and not opponents of, the traditional diachronic methods of historical criticism.