1887
Volume 6, Issue 2
  • ISSN 2665-9336
  • E-ISSN: 2665-9344

Abstract

Abstract

This paper examines the aspectual meaning and positioning of the verb base form ∅ in Early Middle Japanese. This paper classifies verbs based on four temporal features:

  • [activity][telic][durative] and [intentionality].

It also examines the aspectual meanings of different types of verbs in both narrative and non-narrative sections of two period narratives, and . It elucidates the aspectual influence on ∅ by both the literary style and the temporal features of the verb. Compared to narrative section, the ∅ in non-narrative sections tends to be strongly imperfective. Furthermore the ∅ in “punctual telic verbs” with the temporal features of [−durative][+telic] absolutely expresses an event in the perfective aspect, whereas the ∅ in “atelic verbs” and “phenomenon verbs” with the temporal features of [+durative][−telic] tends to express an event in the imperfective aspect. In conclusion, the ∅, is aspectually positioned as a “neutral” in Early Middle Japanese.

Available under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license.
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2026-01-29
2026-02-17
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): aspect; imperfective; neutral; unmarked; verb base form ∅
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