[B-Greek] Questions about NT verbal aspect
James Tauber
jtauber at jtauber.com
Thu Jan 18 12:29:50 EST 2007
On 18/01/2007, at 11:58 AM, Jonathan Robie wrote:
> [...]
> Whether you prefer to say "kind of action", Aktionsart, or aspect, you
> also have to figure out the relationship between time and aspect, and
> how these relate to the forms a verb can take.
Good post, Jonathan.
Just one point: Aktionsart isn't quite the same as aspect. When one
talks about the aspect of different forms of a verb, they are talking
about *grammatical aspect*. Aktionsart, on the other hand, is
*lexical aspect*; in other words, the time structure inherent to the
lexeme, regardless of form.
When you contrast:
(1) I walked to the store.
(2) I was walking to the store.
you are contrasting grammatical aspect (perfective versus
imperfective) in one lexeme.
On the other hand, Aktionsart (i.e. lexical aspect) makes contrasts
between lexemes: e.g. achievements versus accomplishments versus
activities.
James Tauber
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