Eurotyp : Typology of Languages in Europe. 6, Tense and Aspect in the Languages of Europe

Research on language universals and research on linguistic typology are not antagonistic, but rather complementary approaches to the same fundamental problem: the relationship between the amazing diversity of languages and the profound unity of language. Only if the true extent of typological divergence is recognized can universal laws be formulated. In recent years it has become more and more evident that a broad range of languages of radically different types must be carefully analyzed before general theories are possible. Typological comparison of this kind is now at the centre of linguistic research. The series empirical approaches to language typology presents a platform for contributions of all kinds to this rapidly developing field. The distinctive feature of the series is its markedly empirical orientation. All conclusions to be reached are the result of a deepened study of empirical data. General problems are focused on from the perspective of individual languages, language families, language groups, or language samples. Special emphasis is given to the analysis of phenomena from little known languages, which shed new light on long-standing problems in general linguistics. The series is open to contributions from different theoretical persuasions. It thus reflects the methodological pluralism that characterizes the present situation. Care is taken that all volumes be accessible to every linguist and, moreover, to every reader specializing in some domain related to human language. A deeper understanding of human language in general, based on a detailed analysis of typological diversity among individual languages, is fundamental for many sciences, not only for linguists. Therefore, this series has proven to be indispensable in every research library, be it public or private, which has a specialization in language and the language sciences. To discuss your book idea or submit a proposal, please contact Birgit Sievert. "Research on language universals and research on linguistic typology are not antagonistic, but rather complementary approaches to the same fundamental problem: the relationship between the amazing diversity of languages and the profound unity of language. Only if the true extent of typological divergence is recognized can universal laws be formulated. In recent years it has become more and more evident that a broad range of languages of radically different types must be carefully analysed before general theories are possible. Typological comparison of this kind is now at the centre of linguistic research. With the series EMPIRICAL APPROACHES TO LANGUAGE TYPOLOGY, Mouton de Gruyter has created a platform for contributions of all kinds to this rapidly developing field. The distinctive feature of this series is its markedly empirical orientation. All conclusions to be reached are the result of a deepened study of empirical data. General problems are focused on from the perspective of individual languages, language families, language groups, or language samples. Special emphasis is given to the analysis of phenomena from little known languages, which shed new light on long-standing problems in general linguistics. The series is open to contributions from different theoretical persuasions. It thus reflects the methodological pluralism that characterizes the present situation. Care is taken that all volumes be accessible to every linguist and, moreover, to every reader specializing in some domain related to human language. A deeper understanding of human language in general, based on a detailed analysis of typological diversity among individual languages, is fundamental for many sciences, not only for linguists. Therefore, this collection will soon prove indispensable in every research library, be it public or private, which has a specialization in language and the language sciences." Frontmatter Contents The tense-aspect systems of European languages in a typological perspective Viewpoint operators in European languages Aspect vs. Actionality: Why they should be kept apart The type-referring function of the Imperfective On the areal distribution of tense-aspect categories in Europe The grammar of future time reference in European languages Future marking in conditional and temporal clauses in Greek Verbs of becoming as future copulas The perfect – aspectual, temporal and evidential Current relevance and event reference The Simple and Compound Past in Romance languages On the perfect in North Slavic Macedonian – a language with three perfects? Past tenses in Permic languages The progressive in Europe The progressive in Romance, as compared with English Progressive markers in Germanic languages Progressive aspect in Baltic Finnic The absentive Some typological features of the viewpoint and tense system in spoken North-Western Karaim Aspect in Maltese Backmatter

The series is a platform for contributions of all kinds to this rapidly developing field. General problems are studied from the perspective of individual languages, language families, language groups, or language samples. Conclusions are the result of a deepened study of empirical data. Special emphasis is given to little-known languages, whose analysis may shed new light on long-standing problems in general linguistics.

This volume puts the European tense-aspect systems in a consistent typological and diachronic perspective.