1887
  1. Home
  2. e-Journals
  3. Studies in Language. International Journal sponsored by the Foundation “Foundations of Language”
  4. Volume 40, Issue 1
  5. Article
Volume 40, Issue 1
  • ISSN 0378-4177
  • E-ISSN: 1569-9978
USD
Buy:$35.00 + Taxes

Abstract

This article presents the findings of a cross-linguistic survey of tense. In an areally and genetically balanced sample, 318 languages were investigated for whether they have tense and, if so, how they partition the timeline with respect to the deictic centre. Three quarters of the languages have tense: the majority partition the timeline into three sections: before, during and after the deictic centre (effectively past, present and future tense). Those languages with only two tenses most commonly have future/nonfuture tense. Interestingly, a group of languages have only one tense, the majority of them the future. This might indicate that there is a stronger motivation for the future tense to grammaticalize than for other tenses, mirroring a real/unreal world divide: real world events are easier to characterize through aspect than events that are yet to happen, which might create a need for a device that locates an event in future time.

© 2016 John Benjamins Publishing Company
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1075/sl.40.1.04vel
2016-05-09
2024-12-13

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/10.1075/sl.40.1.04vel
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Journal -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Abdel-Hafiz, Ahmed
    1988 A reference grammar of Kunuz Nubian. Buffalo: State University of New York at Buffalo dissertation.
     [Google Scholar]
  2. Angulo, Jaime de & Lucy S. Freeland
    1930 The Achumawi language. International Journal of American Linguistics6(2). 77–120. doi: 10.1086/463788
     https://doi.org/10.1086/463788 [Google Scholar]
  3. Applegate, Richard
    1971 Ineseño Chumash grammar. Berkeley: University of California, Berkeley dissertation.
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Basri, Hasan
    1999 Phonological and syntactic reflections of the morphological structure of Selayarese. Stony Brook: State University of New York at Stony Brook dissertation.
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Becker, Richard A. & Allan R. Wilks
    2015 Original S code; R version by Ray Brownrigg. mapdata: Extra Map Databases. R package version 2.2–5. CRAN.R-project.org/package=mapdata
     [Google Scholar]
  6. 2016 Original S code; R version by Ray Brownrigg. Enhancements by Thomas P. Minka and Alex Deckmyn. maps: Draw Geographical Maps. R package version 3.0.2. CRAN.R-project.org/package=maps
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Bertinetto, Pier Marco
    1994 Statives, progressives, and habituals. Analogies and differences. Linguistics32. 391–423. doi: 10.1515/ling.1994.32.3.391
     https://doi.org/10.1515/ling.1994.32.3.391 [Google Scholar]
  8. 2014 Tenselessness in Southamerican indigenous languages with focus on Ayoreo (Zamuco). LIAMES14. 149–71.
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Bhat, D.N. Shankara
    1999 The prominence of tense, aspect, and mood. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. doi: 10.1075/slcs.49
     https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.49 [Google Scholar]
  10. Bickel, Balthasar & Johanna Nichols
    2007 Inflectional morphology. In Timothy Shopen (ed.),. Language Typology and Syntactic Description. Volume III: Grammatical Categories and the Lexicon, 2nd edn., 169–240. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 169–240. doi: 10.1017/CBO9780511618437.003
     https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511618437.003 [Google Scholar]
  11. 2013a Fusion of selected inflectional formatives. In Matthew S. Dryer & Martin Haspelmath (eds.), The World Atlas of Language Structures Online, chapter 20. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. wals.info/chapter/20. (22 February 2013.)
     [Google Scholar]
  12. 2013b Sampling case and tense formatives. In Matthew S. Dryer & Martin Haspelmath (eds.), The World Atlas of Language Structures Online, supplement 5. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. wals.info/supplement/5. (22 February 2013.)
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Binnick, Robert
    1991 Time and the Verb. A guide to tense and aspect. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  14. Boas, Franz
    1893 Notes on the Chinook language. American Anthropologist6(1). 55–64. doi: 10.1525/aa.1893.6.1.02a00050
     https://doi.org/10.1525/aa.1893.6.1.02a00050 [Google Scholar]
  15. Boland, Johanna
    2006 Aspect, tense and modality. Theory, typology, acquisition. Utrecht: LOT.
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Bybee, Joan & Östen Dahl
    1989 The creation of tense and aspect systems in the languages of the world. Studies in Language: International Journal Sponsored by the Foundation ‘Foundations of Language’ (SLang)13(1). 51–103.
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Bybee, Joan , Revere Perkins & William Pagliuca
    1994 The evolution of grammar. Tense, aspect, and modality in the language of the world. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Comrie, Bernard
    1976 Aspect. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  19. 1981 On Reichenbach’s approach to tense. In Roberts A. Hendrick , Carrie S. Masek & Fary F. Miller (eds.), Papers from the seventeenth regional meeting, Chicago Linguistic Society. Chicago: Chicago Linguistic Society. 24–30.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. 1985 Tense. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9781139165815
     https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139165815 [Google Scholar]
  21. Croft, William
    2003 Typology and Universals, 2nd edn. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  22. 2012 Verbs. Aspect and causal structure. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199248582.001.0001
     https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199248582.001.0001 [Google Scholar]
  23. Crowell, Thomas
    1979 A grammar of Bororo. Ithaca: Cornell University dissertation.
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Dahl, Östen & Viveka Velupillai
    2013a Perfective/imperfective aspect. In Matthew S. Dryer & Martin Haspelmath (eds.), The World Atlas of Language Structures Online, chapter 65. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. wals.info/chapter/65. (14 June 2012.)
     [Google Scholar]
  25. 2013b Tense and aspect. In Matthew S. Dryer & Martin Haspelmath (eds.), The World Atlas of Language Structures Online, supplement 7. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. wals.info/supplement/7. (14 June 2012.)
     [Google Scholar]
  26. 2013c The future tense. In Matthew S. Dryer & Martin Haspelmath (eds.), The World Atlas of Language Structures Online, chapter 67. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. wals.info/chapter/67. (25 June 2012.)
     [Google Scholar]
  27. 2013d The past tense. In Matthew S. Dryer & Martin Haspelmath (eds.), The World Atlas of Language Structures Online, chapter 66. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. wals.info/chapter/66. (11 May 2011.)
     [Google Scholar]
  28. 2013e The perfect. In Matthew S. Dryer & Martin Haspelmath (eds.), The World Atlas of Language Structures Online, chapter 68. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. wals.info/chapter/68. (25 June 2012.)
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Dahl, Östen
    (ed.) 2000 Tense and aspect in the languages of Europe. Berlin: de Gruyter. doi: 10.1515/9783110197099
     https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110197099 [Google Scholar]
  30. 1985 Tense and aspect systems. Oxford: Blackwell.
     [Google Scholar]
  31. Dickens, Patrick
    . n.y. Ju/’hoan grammar . MS.
     [Google Scholar]
  32. Dol, Philomena
    1999 A grammar of Maybrat. A language of the Bird’s Head, Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Leiden: University of Leiden dissertation.
     [Google Scholar]
  33. Du Feu, Veronica
    1996 Rapanui. London: Routledge.
     [Google Scholar]
  34. Eaton, Helen
    2010 A Sandawe grammar. Dallas: SIL.
     [Google Scholar]
  35. Elliott, Jennifer
    2000 Realis and irrealis. Forms and concepts of the grammaticalisation of reality. Linguistic Typology4. 55–90. doi: 10.1515/lity.2000.4.1.55
     https://doi.org/10.1515/lity.2000.4.1.55 [Google Scholar]
  36. Evans, Nicholas
    1995 A grammar of Kayardild. With historical-comparative notes on Tangkic. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. doi: 10.1515/9783110873733
     https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110873733 [Google Scholar]
  37. Everett, Daniel
    2005 Cultural constraints on grammar and cognition in Pirahã. Another look at the design features of human language. Current Anthropology2005. 621–46. doi: 10.1086/431525
     https://doi.org/10.1086/431525 [Google Scholar]
  38. Facundes, Sidney da Silva
    2000 The language of the Apurinã people of Brazil (Maipure/Arawak). Buffalo: State University of New York at Buffalo dissertation.
     [Google Scholar]
  39. Fleck, David
    2003 A grammar of Matses. Houston: Rice University dissertation.
     [Google Scholar]
  40. Fortescue, Michael
    1984 West Greenlandic. London: Croom Helm.
     [Google Scholar]
  41. Frachtenberg, Leo
    1922 Coos. In Franz Boas (ed.), Handbook of American Indian Languages. Volume 2, 297–430. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, Washington.
     [Google Scholar]
  42. Fried, Robert
    2010 A grammar of Bao’an Tu, a Mongolic language of Northwest China. Buffalo: State University of New York at Buffalo dissertation.
     [Google Scholar]
  43. Givón, Talmy
    2001 Syntax. An Introduction. Volume I, 2nd edn. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. doi: 10.1075/z.syn1
     https://doi.org/10.1075/z.syn1 [Google Scholar]
  44. González, Hebe
    2005 A grammar of Tapiete (Tupi-Guarani). Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh dissertation.
     [Google Scholar]
  45. Grondona, Verónica
    1998 A grammar of Mocovi. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh dissertation.
     [Google Scholar]
  46. Guirardello, Raquel
    1999 A reference grammar of Trumai. Houston: Rice University dissertation.
     [Google Scholar]
  47. Haan, Ferdinand de
    2010 Typology of tense, aspect, and modality systems. In Jae J. Song (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Linguistic Typology, 445–64. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  48. Haspelmath, Martin
    2010 Comparative concepts and descriptive categories in crosslinguistic studies. Language86(3). 663–87. doi: 10.1353/lan.2010.0021
     https://doi.org/10.1353/lan.2010.0021 [Google Scholar]
  49. Heine, Bernd & Tania Kuteva
    2002 World lexicon of grammaticalization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9780511613463
     https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511613463 [Google Scholar]
  50. Hengeveld, Kees
    2011 The grammaticalization of tense and aspect. In Heiko Narrog & Bernd Heine (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Grammaticalization, 580–94. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  51. Heuvel, Wilco van den
    2006 Biak. Description of an Austronesian language of Papua. Utrecht: LOT.
     [Google Scholar]
  52. Hewson, John & Vít Bubeník
    1997 Tense and aspect in Indo-European languages. Theory, typology, diachrony. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. doi: 10.1075/cilt.145
     https://doi.org/10.1075/cilt.145 [Google Scholar]
  53. Hutchinson, John
    1976 Aspects of Kanuri syntax. Bloomington: Indiana University dissertation.
     [Google Scholar]
  54. Israel, Motchakon
    1979 A grammar of the Kuvi Language. Trivandrum: Dravidian Linguistics Association.
     [Google Scholar]
  55. Janssen, Dirk , Balthasar Bickel & Fernando Zúñiga
    2006 Randomization tests in language typology. Linguistic Typology10. 419–40. doi: 10.1515/LINGTY.2006.013
     https://doi.org/10.1515/LINGTY.2006.013 [Google Scholar]
  56. Johanson, Lars
    2000 Viewpoint operators in European languages. In Östen Dahl (ed.), Tense and aspect in the languages of Europe, 27–187. Berlin: de Gruyter.
     [Google Scholar]
  57. Kibort, Anna
    2009 Modelling ‘the perfect’, a category between tense and aspect. InCurrent issues in unity and diversity of languages. Collection of the papers selected from the CIL 18th, held at Korea University in Seoul on July 21-26, 2008, 1390–1404. Seoul: The Linguistic Society of Korea.
     [Google Scholar]
  58. Klein, Wolfgang
    1994 Time in language. London: Routledge.
     [Google Scholar]
  59. Laufer, Carl
    1959 P. Futschers Aufzeichnungen über die Butam-Sprache (Neubritannien). Anthropos54. 183–212.
     [Google Scholar]
  60. Leeding, Velma
    1989 Anindilyakwa phonology and morphology. Sydney: University of Sydney dissertation.
     [Google Scholar]
  61. Marchese, Lynell
    1986 Tense, aspect and the development of Auxiliaries in Kru languages. Dallas: SIL.
     [Google Scholar]
  62. Nedjalkov, Igor
    1997 Evenki. London: Routledge.
     [Google Scholar]
  63. Nurse, Derek
    2008 Tense and aspect in Bantu. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  64. Reichenbach, Hans
    1947 Elements of symbolic logic. London: Collier-Macmillan.
     [Google Scholar]
  65. Routamaa, Judy
    1994  Kamula grammar essentials . MS.
     [Google Scholar]
  66. Rude, Noel
    1985 Studies in Nez Perce grammar and discourse (promotion, genitives, antipassive, objects, ergative, Indians, Northwest). Eugene: University of Oregon dissertation.
     [Google Scholar]
  67. Shay, Erin
    1999 A grammar of East Dangla. The simple sentence (Chad). Boulder: University of Colorado at Boulder dissertation.
     [Google Scholar]
  68. Singler, John
    1990 Pidgin and Creole tense-mood-aspect systems. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. doi: 10.1075/cll.6
     https://doi.org/10.1075/cll.6 [Google Scholar]
  69. Sridhar, Shikaripur N
    1990 Kannada. London: Routledge.
     [Google Scholar]
  70. Stirtz, Timothy
    2011 A grammar of Gaahmg. A Nilo-Saharan language of Sudan. Utrecht: LOT.
     [Google Scholar]
  71. Terrill, Angela
    1999 A grammar of Lavukaleve. A Papuan language of the Solomon Islands. Canberra: Australian National University dissertation.
     [Google Scholar]
  72. Thieroff, Rolf & Joachim Ballweg
    1994 Tense systems in European languages. Tübingen: Max Niemeyer.
     [Google Scholar]
  73. Thieroff, Rolf
    1995 Tense Systems in European Languages II. Tübingen: Max Niemeyer. doi: 10.1515/9783110958911
     https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110958911 [Google Scholar]
  74. Thompson, Laurence
    1987 A Vietnamese reference grammar [Rev.]. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  75. Turner, Paul
    1966 Highland Chontal grammar. Chicago: The University of Chicago dissertation.
     [Google Scholar]
  76. Velupillai, Viveka & Elke Hentschel
    2009 Tempus. In Elke Hentschel & Petra M. Vogel (eds.), Deutsche Morphologie, 425–40. Berlin: de Gruyter.
     [Google Scholar]
  77. Velupillai, Viveka
    2012 An introduction to linguistic typology. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. doi: 10.1075/z.176
     https://doi.org/10.1075/z.176 [Google Scholar]
  78. Voorhoeve, Clemens
    1965 The Flamingo Bay dialect of the Asmat language. The Hague: M. Nijhoff. doi: 10.1163/9789004286740
     https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004286740 [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1075/sl.40.1.04vel
Loading
  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): absolute tense; cross-linguistic; deictic centre; future; grammaticalization; nonfuture; nonpast; obligatoriness; past; perfect; present; relative tense; tenseless languages; timeline; typology

Most Cited

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was successful
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error