Beastly Speech: Intertextuality, Balaam's Ass and the Garden of Eden

Savran, George

doi:10.1177/030908929401906404

Cited by 30 publications

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“…Legends about humans speaking animal languages or animals speaking human languages have been part of folklore around the globe for millennia, from biblical narratives of speaking snake or donkey (Savran, 1994) to the Norse Nibelungen tales (Blind, 1882) or Indian legends (Frazer, 1888). Although cross-species communication may be different and/or fall short of fuller understanding in comparison to within-species communication, there is potential for deepening interspecies bonds through communication and communication attempts.…”

Section: Listening To Animals' Voicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sonic enrichment at the zoo

Kleinberger

2023

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There is a strong disconnect between humans and other species in our societies. Zoos particularly expose this disconnect by displaying the asymmetry between visitors in search of entertainment, and animals often suffering from a lack of meaningful interactions and natural behaviors. In zoos, many species are unable to mate, raise young, or exhibit engagement behaviors. Enrichment is a way to enhance their quality of life, enabling them to express natural behaviors and reducing stereotypies. Prior work on sound-based enrichment and interactivity suggest that a better understanding of animals’ sensory needs and giving them options to shape their surroundings can yield substantial benefits. However, current zoo management and conservation practices lack tools and frameworks to leverage innovative technology to improve animal well-being and zookeepers’ ability to care for them. Ethical considerations are called for in developing such interventions as human understanding of animals’ worlds is still limited, and assumptions can have detrimental consequences. Based on several interventions, four principles are proposed to guide a more systematic implementation of sonic enrichment in zoos. The goal is to lay the groundwork for the design of the zoos of the future, with a focus on sounds, for the benefit of the animals.

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Section: Listening To Animals' Voicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sonic enrichment at the zoo

Kleinberger

2023

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“… 1. Rouillard, 1985; Safren, 1988; Novick, 2007; Kil, 1997: 44-51; Savran, 1994; Embry, 2010; Hepner, 2011; Sailhamer, 1992: 405-409. …”

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confidence: 99%

Transitive Analogies and the Meaning of Balaam’s Origin: A Literary Analysis

Gelblum

2023

Journal for the Study of the Old Testament

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A set of parallels between the Balaam pericope and the encounter with Edom in Num. 20.14-21 form a literary allusion to the latter, which also draws on elements in the Jacob cycle – especially in Genesis 27. I suggest that these parallels encourage us to associate Balaam with Edom – as do Gen. 36.31-32 and other previously discovered evidence. A key to understanding these literary connections is the sword motif in Num. 20.14-21 and Num. 22.21-35, which points back to “you shall live by your sword” in Gen. 27.40. The allusion seems to present Esau’s sword blessing and Balaam’s intended curse as futile against the divine will. Another layer of meaning of the Balaam-Edom connection becomes clear when we consider the biblical motif of Edom as a symbol of the “nations” (Israel’s enemies), as well as Frisch’s recent proposal that Balaam’s jenny is a symbol of Israel.

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“…Savran contends that the donkey speaks in a natural manner, clarifying Balaam’s confusion rather than complicating it, exhibiting a deeper understanding of human–divine relationships than Balaam, even asking to save her master. The donkey is “the exemplar of obedience and submission to divine authority” (“Beastly Speech: Intertextuality, Balaam’s Ass, and the Garden of Eden,” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament , 64, 1994, p. 51).…”

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confidence: 99%

“One language and one tongue”: Animal speech in Jubilees 3:27–31

Wells

2019

Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha

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Jubilees 3:27–31 explains the command to cover one’s nakedness, and the connections with animal speech help to elucidate the reasons for this law. Jubilees implies a sort of equality/solidarity between humans and animals due to their sin/impurity. Even though God does not directly address the serpent with speech, Jubilees portrays animals as more rational than in Genesis, as they originally talked and conversed with each other and apparently also with humans. This shared rationality and identity between all animals results in all losing their speech. Animals are portrayed in Jubilees with more rationality, culpability, and even solidarity with humans than in Genesis. The one exception is that animals are not allowed to cover their nakedness, and yet they still end up in a more positive light than the nations, who are willfully uncovered and in shame.

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Beastly Speech: Intertextuality, Balaam's Ass and the Garden of Eden

Cited by 30 publications

References 0 publications

Sonic enrichment at the zoo

Sonic enrichment at the zoo

Transitive Analogies and the Meaning of Balaam’s Origin: A Literary Analysis

“One language and one tongue”: Animal speech in Jubilees 3:27–31

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