toward a definition of Verbal Apect

Mark Wilson emory2oo2 at hotmail.com
Mon Nov 4 18:51:55 EST 2002


Hi Waldo:

>And of course, I guess we need to distinguish
>Grammatical from Lexical Aspect if we are to arrive at
>an all-inclusive word to replace punctiliar.

You asked:
----
>Can you be more specific as to what you mean here?
----

I've read Porter, Wallace, Fanning, and Olsen. Of these four,
I like Olsen the best. Her system of understanding Verbal Aspect
to me makes the most sense. Of the four, Porter holds the most
radical view.

There are two Aspects competing for attention/focus with every verb.
And these two Aspects influence each other. The first Aspect is
called Grammatical Aspect. It is established by the FORM of the verb
that the writer/speaker uses (whether it is Aorist, Perfect, Present).
The second Aspect is Lexical Aspect. This is established by what
specific word the writer/speaker uses (blink or stare, run or stand).

Word plus FORM equals Total Aspectual Meaning.

Mark Wilson


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