A Diachronic and Comparative Lexical Analysis of Almah, Betulah, and Parthenos: Semantic Boundaries and Theological Implications
Pieter Lamper Pieter Lamper

A Diachronic and Comparative Lexical Analysis of Almah, Betulah, and Parthenos: Semantic Boundaries and Theological Implications

Almah refers to a young woman of marriageable age, whereas betulah specifically denotes a physiological virgin. Parthenos originally functioned broadly like almah (unmarried maiden) but was narrowed by the Septuagint and New Testament to strictly mean virginity, creating a theological specificity absent in the Hebrew almah.

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The Jester’s Privilege: A Comprehensive Analysis of Sarcasm, Cynicism, and the Cognitive Mechanisms of Comedic Truth-Telling
Pieter Lamper Pieter Lamper

The Jester’s Privilege: A Comprehensive Analysis of Sarcasm, Cynicism, and the Cognitive Mechanisms of Comedic Truth-Telling

Sarcasm (sarkazein) and Cynicism (kynikos) function as cognitive scalpels . By utilizing the "Peripheral Route" of the Elaboration Likelihood Model and the "Benign Violation Theory" , comedians bypass the ego's defenses. This allows audiences to accept uncomfortable "taboo truths" via the safe, "Comic Frame" of laughter.

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