Starting with a definition of ‘aspect’ and ‘phylogenesis’ in this term paper I will try to give an overview of the development of the grammatical category of ‘aspect’ throughout the history of the English language. According to Comrie, ‘aspect’ can be defined as follows: “As the general definition of aspect, we may take the formulation that ‘aspects are different ways of viewing the internal temporal constituency of a situation’.” In contrast to ‘tense’, which is a deictic category, ‘aspect is not concerned with relating the time of the situation to any other time-point [...]?”
WordNet, a lexical database for the English language, defines ‘phylogenesis’ as follows: “Phylogenesis: ((biology) the sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms)” Therefore, in connection with linguistic purposes and ‘aspect’ the term ‘phylogenesis’, usually used in biological and evolutionary terminology, can be understood as the diachronic development of the grammatical category of aspect from Old English (OE) to Modern English (ModE).
Table of Contents
- 1. Definition of 'Aspect' and 'Phylogenesis'
- 2. 'Aspect' in Old English (OE)
- 2.1. Distributive Habitual
- 2.2. Progressive
- 2.3. Perfect
- 3. 'Aspect' in Middle (ME) and Early Modern English (EME)
- 3.1. Distributive Habitual
- 3.2. Progressive
- 3.3. Perfect
- 4. 'Aspect' in Modern English (ModE)
- 4.1. Progressive
- 4.2. Perfect
- 4.3. 'Aspectual Oppositions' on a Semantic Level in ModE
- 5. Frequency Table
- 6. Conclusion: Process of the Evolution of 'Verbal Aspect'
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the evolution of the grammatical category of 'aspect' throughout the history of the English language. It begins by defining the terms 'aspect' and 'phylogenesis' before tracing the development of aspect from Old English (OE) to Modern English (ModE).
- The development of aspect in the history of the English language
- The different forms and functions of aspect across various stages of English
- The relationship between 'aspect' and 'tense'
- The evolution of perfect, progressive, and distributive habitual forms
- The influence of Latin on the development of the English progressive
Chapter Summaries
The paper first defines 'aspect' and 'phylogenesis,' establishing a framework for understanding the evolution of aspect in English. Chapter 2 examines the various forms of aspect in Old English (OE), including the distributive habitual, progressive, and perfect. The discussion highlights the use of auxiliaries, adverbs, and adjectival participles in forming these aspects.
Chapter 3 extends this analysis to Middle English (ME) and Early Modern English (EME), exploring the development and evolution of the same aspects through these periods.
Chapter 4 focuses on the state of aspect in Modern English (ModE), analyzing the modern progressive and perfect and examining 'aspectual oppositions' on a semantic level.
Keywords
The paper's focus is on the evolution of verbal aspect in the English language. Key themes include the development of perfect, progressive, and distributive habitual forms, the influence of Latin on the English progressive, and the relationship between aspect and tense.
- Quote paper
- Andreas Keilbach (Author), 2008, The Phylogenesis of Aspect in English, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/118450
