TENSE

Time versus Tense

TENSE = A DEICTIC CATEGORY

Tense = representing the chronological order
of events in time, as perceived by the speaker
at the moment of speaking (ST)
Tense = deictic = the moment NOW central,
past and future = directions of orientation
depending on ST
Tense is a functional category that expresses
a temporal relation to the orientation point
ST, locating the situation

Speech Time

TENSE= more than just inflections

Stuart walked to school.
Stuart walked to school every day.
Albert is playing tennis.
Albert is playing tennis tomorrow.

TENSE= more than just inflections

1. Tense specification of the verb (V)
tense inflection
2. Temporal adverbials

TEMPORAL ADVERBIALS
ANCHORED
Explicit relation to Speech
Time

UNANCHORED
No explicit relation to
Speech time

now, yesterday, tomorrow

in June, on Friday

TEMPORAL ADVERBIALS

Duration adverbials (for X time)

Completive adverbials(in X time)
Frequency adverbials (often, seldom)
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

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

ST speech time
RT reference time
ET event time

General framework: Reichenbachs

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

ST speech time
The time at which the sentence
is uttered.

General framework: Reichenbachs

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

ST NOW

General framework: Reichenbachs

model
1. Tim is playing in the garden (now)
1=PRESENT CONTINUOUS
RT = present
2. Tim worked in this house last year.
2= PAST SIMPLE
RT=past
RT is the time indicated by the sentence
(past/present/future)

General framework: Reichenbachs

model

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

General framework: Reichenbachs

model
Terry came here yesterday.
RT ed (came), yesterday
Ross came tomorrow.
RT ???? Came (past) + tomorrow (present)
If they have contradictory values the combinations
cannot establish RT.

General framework: Reichenabachs

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

General framework: Reichenbachs

model

ET = the moment at
which the event
occurs

General framework: Reichenbachs

model
The value of a temporal expression is the result
of the relation of order established between
ST/RT/ET.
ET and ST are pragmatically observable, while RT
is the abstract moment of time postulated by
the linguist, mediating between ST and ET

Abstract temporal representation

Tim is playing in the senten
garden (now)
ST=NOW
RT =present
RT= ST (RT includes ST)
ET=RT
Tim went on holiday last year.
ST = NOW
RT= -ed, last year
RT before ST
ET=RT

ATR
Tim is playing in the garden (now)
RT= ST
ET=RT
Tim went on holiday last year.
RT before ST
ET=RT
Tim went on holiday before midnight.
RT before ST
ET =?

ATR
Tim went on holiday before midnight.
RT before ST
ET before RT
Tim had already gone on holiday.
ST=?
RT=?
ET=?

ATR
Tim had already gone on holiday.
ST=NOW
RT=-ed
ET= had
RT bef ST
ET bef RT

ATR
Tim will visit the city next month.
ST=?
RT=?
ET=?

ATR
Tim will visit the city next month.
ST=NOW
RT=will, next month
ET=RT
RT after ST
ET=RT

ATR
Tim will have eaten the cakes by then.
ST=
RT
ET=

ATR
Tim will have eaten the cakes by then.
ST=NOW
RT= next month, future
ET= have
RT after ST
ET before RT

ATR
Tim will have eaten the cakes by then.
FUTURE PERFECT
RT after ST (the reference component)
ET before RT (the relation component)

CONCLUSIONS
The temporal specification of English sentences
is given by means of tense inflections and
temporal adverbials. Each tense can be
analyzed in terms of two main components:
- The reference component (RT and ST)
- The relation component (ET and RT)