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Aspect beyond time: Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 May 2020

ASTRID DE WIT Open the ORCID record for ASTRID DE WIT [Opens in a new window]  and
FRANK BRISARD Open the ORCID record for FRANK BRISARD [Opens in a new window]
ASTRID DE WIT*
Affiliation:
University of Antwerp
FRANK BRISARD*
Affiliation:
University of Antwerp
*
Author’s address: Department of Linguistics, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000Antwerp, Belgiumastrid.dewit@uantwerpen.be
Author’s address: frank.brisard@uantwerpen.be
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Abstract

The collection of papers presented in this special issue addresses the non-temporal import of aspectual constructions, in conventional and less conventional contexts and expression modes. In this introduction, we outline the notions of lexical and grammatical aspect, and how they are traditionally analyzed in temporal accounts, which focus on situations’ temporal constituency, duration, and limitation in time. This serves to clarify relevant notions for those readers who are less familiar with the domain (admittedly riddled with terminological confusion) and thus explicate some of the underlying tenets of existing (temporal) accounts, which the papers in this special issue call into question. This questioning, alongside insights coming from the discussion of various non-canonical constructions/uses in different languages and from different theoretical perspectives, promises an alternative approach to aspect, which goes beyond time.

Keywords

aspectepistemic modalityevidentialitynon-temporal uses
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Linguistics , Volume 56 , Issue 3: Aspect beyond time , 01 August 2020 , pp. 459 - 477
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Copyright
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

We should like to thank Professor Helen de Hoop and Dr Ewa Jaworska for their valued guidance in the course of the production of this special issue, as well as for the patience they exhibited in the process. We are furthermore very much indebted to the reviewers of the individual contributions to this special issue for their thorough feedback on different drafts of the papers. We also wish to thank all participants (speakers, discussants, and interested parties) who contributed to the success of our workshop. Special thanks to Professor Laura Michaelis for being the main driving force behind the organization of the workshop. Glossing abbreviations follow the Leipzig Glossing Rules.

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