TENSETENSETENSETENSE

Time versus TenseTime versus Tense

TENSE = A DEICTIC CATEGORYTENSE = A DEICTIC CATEGORYTENSE = A DEICTIC CATEGORYTENSE = A DEICTIC CATEGORY

Tense = representing the chronological order of events in time, as perceived by the speaker at the moment of speaking (ST)the moment of speaking (ST)

Tense = deicticdeictic = the moment NOW central, past and future = directions of orientation depending on ST

Tense is a functional category functional category that expresses a temporal relation to the orientation point ST, locating the situationlocating the situation

Speech TimeSpeech Time

TENSETENSE= more than just inflections= more than just inflectionsTENSETENSE= more than just inflections= more than just inflections

Stuart walkStuart walkeded to school. to school.Stuart walkStuart walkeded to school to school every dayevery day. .

Albert iAlbert iss playing tennis. playing tennis. Albert iAlbert iss playing tennis playing tennis tomorrow.tomorrow.

Stuart walkStuart walkeded to school. to school.Stuart walkStuart walkeded to school to school every dayevery day. .

Albert iAlbert iss playing tennis. playing tennis. Albert iAlbert iss playing tennis playing tennis tomorrow.tomorrow.

TENSETENSE= more than just inflections= more than just inflectionsTENSETENSE= more than just inflections= more than just inflections

1.1. Tense specification of the verb (V) Tense specification of the verb (V) tense inflection tense inflection

2.2. Temporal adverbials Temporal adverbials

1.1. Tense specification of the verb (V) Tense specification of the verb (V) tense inflection tense inflection

2.2. Temporal adverbials Temporal adverbials

TEMPORAL ADVERBIALSTEMPORAL ADVERBIALS

ANCHORED Explicit relation to Speech

Time

now, yesterday, tomorrownow, yesterday, tomorrow

UNANCHORED No explicit relation to

Speech time

in June, on Friday in June, on Friday

TEMPORAL ADVERBIALSTEMPORAL ADVERBIALSTEMPORAL ADVERBIALSTEMPORAL ADVERBIALS

Duration adverbials Duration adverbials (for X time)(for X time) Completive adverbialsCompletive adverbials(in X time)(in X time) Frequency adverbials Frequency adverbials (often, seldom)(often, seldom) Locating/Frame adverbials:Locating/Frame adverbials:- Deictic: last week, last night (ST)- Anaphoric: until, till, on Sunday (previously

established time)- Referential: at six, in August (calendar time)

Duration adverbials Duration adverbials (for X time)(for X time) Completive adverbialsCompletive adverbials(in X time)(in X time) Frequency adverbials Frequency adverbials (often, seldom)(often, seldom) Locating/Frame adverbials:Locating/Frame adverbials:- Deictic: last week, last night (ST)- Anaphoric: until, till, on Sunday (previously

established time)- Referential: at six, in August (calendar time)

General framework: Reichenbachs General framework: Reichenbachs modelmodel

General framework: Reichenbachs General framework: Reichenbachs modelmodel

The semantic interpretation of temporal forms presupposes three points in time:

ST speech timeST speech time RT reference timeRT reference time ET event timeET event time

The semantic interpretation of temporal forms presupposes three points in time:

ST speech timeST speech time RT reference timeRT reference time ET event timeET event time

General framework: Reichenbachs General framework: Reichenbachs modelmodel

General framework: Reichenbachs General framework: Reichenbachs modelmodel

Tim is playing in the garden. Tim is playing in the garden. Tim went on holiday last year. Tim went on holiday last year.

ST speech timeST speech timeThe time at which the sentence The time at which the sentence

is uttered. is uttered.

Tim is playing in the garden. Tim is playing in the garden. Tim went on holiday last year. Tim went on holiday last year.

ST speech timeST speech timeThe time at which the sentence The time at which the sentence

is uttered. is uttered.

General framework: Reichenbachs General framework: Reichenbachs modelmodel

General framework: Reichenbachs General framework: Reichenbachs modelmodel

Tim is playing in the garden. Tim is playing in the garden. Tim went on holiday last year. Tim went on holiday last year.

ST NOWST NOW

Tim is playing in the garden. Tim is playing in the garden. Tim went on holiday last year. Tim went on holiday last year.

ST NOWST NOW

General framework: Reichenbachs General framework: Reichenbachs modelmodel

General framework: Reichenbachs General framework: Reichenbachs modelmodel

1.1. Tim iTim iss playing in the garden playing in the garden (now)(now) 1=PRESENT 1=PRESENT CONTINUOUSCONTINUOUSRT = presentRT = present2. Tim work2. Tim workeded in this house in this house last yearlast year..2= 2= PASTPAST SIMPLE SIMPLE RT=pastRT=pastRT is the time indicated by the sentence RT is the time indicated by the sentence

(past/present/future)(past/present/future)

1.1. Tim iTim iss playing in the garden playing in the garden (now)(now) 1=PRESENT 1=PRESENT CONTINUOUSCONTINUOUSRT = presentRT = present2. Tim work2. Tim workeded in this house in this house last yearlast year..2= 2= PASTPAST SIMPLE SIMPLE RT=pastRT=pastRT is the time indicated by the sentence RT is the time indicated by the sentence

(past/present/future)(past/present/future)

General framework: Reichenbachs General framework: Reichenbachs modelmodel

General framework: Reichenbachs General framework: Reichenbachs modelmodel

RT is established by the combination of tense (tense affixes) and adverbial(s), which are supposed to establish compatible relational values

RT is established by the combination of tense (tense affixes) and adverbial(s), which are supposed to establish compatible relational values

General framework: Reichenbachs General framework: Reichenbachs modelmodel

General framework: Reichenbachs General framework: Reichenbachs modelmodel

Terry Terry camecame here here yesterdayyesterday..RT ed (came), yesterdayRT ed (came), yesterday

Ross Ross camecame tomorrowtomorrow..RT ???? Came (past) + tomorrow (present)RT ???? Came (past) + tomorrow (present)

If they have contradictory values the combinations If they have contradictory values the combinations cannot establish RT.cannot establish RT.

Terry Terry camecame here here yesterdayyesterday..RT ed (came), yesterdayRT ed (came), yesterday

Ross Ross camecame tomorrowtomorrow..RT ???? Came (past) + tomorrow (present)RT ???? Came (past) + tomorrow (present)

If they have contradictory values the combinations If they have contradictory values the combinations cannot establish RT.cannot establish RT.

General framework: Reichenabachs General framework: Reichenabachs modelmodel

General framework: Reichenabachs General framework: Reichenabachs modelmodel

Tenses are defined as ST/RT/Tenses are defined as ST/RT/ET ET configuration ordered by operations configuration ordered by operations of simultaneity or sequentiality of simultaneity or sequentiality (anteriority/posteriority)(anteriority/posteriority)

Tenses are defined as ST/RT/Tenses are defined as ST/RT/ET ET configuration ordered by operations configuration ordered by operations of simultaneity or sequentiality of simultaneity or sequentiality (anteriority/posteriority)(anteriority/posteriority)

General framework: Reichenbachs General framework: Reichenbachs modelmodel

General framework: Reichenbachs General framework: Reichenbachs modelmodel

ET = the moment at ET = the moment at which the event which the event occursoccurs

ET = the moment at ET = the moment at which the event which the event occursoccurs

General framework: Reichenbachs General framework: Reichenbachs modelmodel

General framework: Reichenbachs General framework: Reichenbachs modelmodel

The value of a temporal expression is the result The value of a temporal expression is the result of the relation of order established between of the relation of order established between ST/RT/ET. ST/RT/ET.

ET and ST are pragmatically observable, while RT ET and ST are pragmatically observable, while RT is the abstract moment of time postulated by is the abstract moment of time postulated by the linguist, mediating between ST and ETthe linguist, mediating between ST and ET

The value of a temporal expression is the result The value of a temporal expression is the result of the relation of order established between of the relation of order established between ST/RT/ET. ST/RT/ET.

ET and ST are pragmatically observable, while RT ET and ST are pragmatically observable, while RT is the abstract moment of time postulated by is the abstract moment of time postulated by the linguist, mediating between ST and ETthe linguist, mediating between ST and ET

Abstract temporal representation Abstract temporal representation sentensenten

Abstract temporal representation Abstract temporal representation sentensentenTim iTim iss playing in the garden playing in the garden (now)(now)

ST=NOWST=NOWRT =presentRT =presentRT= RT= ST ST (RT includes ST)(RT includes ST)ET=RTET=RTTim went on holiday Tim went on holiday last yearlast year. . ST = NOWST = NOWRT= -ed, last yearRT= -ed, last yearRT before STRT before STET=RTET=RT

Tim iTim iss playing in the garden playing in the garden (now)(now)ST=NOWST=NOWRT =presentRT =presentRT= RT= ST ST (RT includes ST)(RT includes ST)ET=RTET=RTTim went on holiday Tim went on holiday last yearlast year. . ST = NOWST = NOWRT= -ed, last yearRT= -ed, last yearRT before STRT before STET=RTET=RT

ATRATRATRATRTim iTim iss playing in the garden playing in the garden (now)(now)RT= ST RT= ST ET=RTET=RTTim Tim went went on holiday on holiday last yearlast year. . RT before STRT before STET=RTET=RT

Tim went on holiday before midnight. Tim went on holiday before midnight. RT before STRT before STET =?ET =?

Tim iTim iss playing in the garden playing in the garden (now)(now)RT= ST RT= ST ET=RTET=RTTim Tim went went on holiday on holiday last yearlast year. . RT before STRT before STET=RTET=RT

Tim went on holiday before midnight. Tim went on holiday before midnight. RT before STRT before STET =?ET =?

ATRATRATRATR

Tim Tim wentwent on holiday on holiday beforebefore midnightmidnight. . RT before STRT before STET before RTET before RT

Tim had already gone on holiday.Tim had already gone on holiday.ST=?ST=?RT=?RT=?ET=?ET=?

Tim Tim wentwent on holiday on holiday beforebefore midnightmidnight. . RT before STRT before STET before RTET before RT

Tim had already gone on holiday.Tim had already gone on holiday.ST=?ST=?RT=?RT=?ET=?ET=?

ATRATRATRATR

Tim had already gone on holiday.Tim had already gone on holiday.ST=NOWST=NOWRT=-edRT=-edET= had ET= had

RT bef STRT bef STET bef RTET bef RT

Tim had already gone on holiday.Tim had already gone on holiday.ST=NOWST=NOWRT=-edRT=-edET= had ET= had

RT bef STRT bef STET bef RTET bef RT

ATRATRATRATR

Tim will visit the city next month.Tim will visit the city next month.

ST=?ST=?RT=?RT=?ET=?ET=?

Tim will visit the city next month.Tim will visit the city next month.

ST=?ST=?RT=?RT=?ET=?ET=?

ATRATRATRATR

Tim will visit the city next month.Tim will visit the city next month.

ST=NOWST=NOWRT=will, next monthRT=will, next monthET=RTET=RT

RT after STRT after STET=RTET=RT

Tim will visit the city next month.Tim will visit the city next month.

ST=NOWST=NOWRT=will, next monthRT=will, next monthET=RTET=RT

RT after STRT after STET=RTET=RT

ATRATRATRATR

Tim will have eaten the cakes by then.Tim will have eaten the cakes by then.

ST=ST=RTRTET=ET=

Tim will have eaten the cakes by then.Tim will have eaten the cakes by then.

ST=ST=RTRTET=ET=

ATRATRATRATR

Tim Tim willwill havehave eaten the cakes eaten the cakes byby thenthen..ST=NOWST=NOWRT= next month, futureRT= next month, futureET= haveET= have

RT after STRT after STET before RTET before RT

Tim Tim willwill havehave eaten the cakes eaten the cakes byby thenthen..ST=NOWST=NOWRT= next month, futureRT= next month, futureET= haveET= have

RT after STRT after STET before RTET before RT

ATRATRATRATR

Tim Tim willwill havehave eaten the cakes eaten the cakes byby thenthen..

FUTUREFUTURE PERFECTPERFECT

RT after ST (the reference component)RT after ST (the reference component)ET before RT (the relation component)ET before RT (the relation component)

Tim Tim willwill havehave eaten the cakes eaten the cakes byby thenthen..

FUTUREFUTURE PERFECTPERFECT

RT after ST (the reference component)RT after ST (the reference component)ET before RT (the relation component)ET before RT (the relation component)

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

The temporal specification of English sentences The temporal specification of English sentences is given by means of tense inflections and is given by means of tense inflections and temporal adverbials. Each tense can be temporal adverbials. Each tense can be analyzed in terms of two main components:analyzed in terms of two main components:

- The reference component (RT and ST)The reference component (RT and ST)- The relation component (ET and RT) The relation component (ET and RT)

The temporal specification of English sentences The temporal specification of English sentences is given by means of tense inflections and is given by means of tense inflections and temporal adverbials. Each tense can be temporal adverbials. Each tense can be analyzed in terms of two main components:analyzed in terms of two main components:

- The reference component (RT and ST)The reference component (RT and ST)- The relation component (ET and RT) The relation component (ET and RT)

TENSETENSE = A DEICTIC CATEGORYSpeech TimeTENSE= more than just inflectionsSlide 5TEMPORAL ADVERBIALSSlide 7General framework: Reichenbachs modelSlide 9Slide 10Slide 11Slide 12Slide 13General framework: Reichenabachs modelSlide 15Slide 16Abstract temporal representation sentenATRSlide 19Slide 20Slide 21Slide 22Slide 23Slide 24Slide 25CONCLUSIONS