[B-Greek] Imperfect and Aorist Tense-Aspects

Elizabeth Kline kline_dekooning at earthlink.net
Thu Sep 14 13:06:15 EDT 2006


On Sep 14, 2006, at 4:23 AM, Randall Buth wrote:

> Randall (me) argues that HLQEN refers backwards in time which results
> in an understanding that the author has taken a vantage point (deictic
> centre) in the future and is looking back in time to the 'coming'.

After following this discussion for some time perhaps I am beginning  
to understand the different frameworks. If the vantage point (deictic  
centre) is portable, subject to relocation, then what would we say  
about the so called historical present? Is this a case where the  
present indicitive retains the semantic feature +present but the  
vantage point of the speaker is relocated?

For what its worth, G.L.Cooper (Attic Syntax, 1.53.6.B) gives two  
examples of the aorist indicative with future reference from  
Euripides. Cooper states that this is quite rare and observes  that  
both of these examples are conditionals.

E.Alc

386  APWLOMHN AR, EI ME DH LEIYEIS, GUNAI.

E.Med

78  APWLOMESQ' AR, EI KAKON PROSOISOMEN

79 NEON PALAIWI, PRIN TOD' EXHNTLHKENAI.


Elizabeth Kline







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