(Past) temporal reference in an aspect prominent language

Akan (Kwa, Niger-Congo) deploys three different temporal markers to express pastness: the final vowel lengthening of the verb (LEN), the prefix 'a'-, and the particle 'ná'. Building on novel fieldwork data, we propose a pronominal analysis for 'ná', viewed as a non-present tense. For 'LEN', we develop a hybrid tense-aspect analysis, with its (past) tense lacking existential closure. By contrast, 'a'- denotes a hybrid perfect with a quantificational tense semantics and an underspecified resultative aspect semantics.

Publication Details

Journal
Open Journal Systems (Global Science & Technology Forum)
Published
2024-11-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.18148/sub/2024.v28.1109
Primary Topic
Sugarcane Cultivation and Processing
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

(Past) temporal reference in an aspect prominent language

Open Journal Systems (Global Science & Technology Forum)
Sugarcane Cultivation and Processing
article

(Past) temporal reference in an aspect prominent language

article en

Abstract

Akan (Kwa, Niger-Congo) deploys three different temporal markers to express pastness: the final vowel lengthening of the verb (LEN), the prefix 'a'-, and the particle 'ná'. Building on novel fieldwork data, we propose a pronominal analysis for 'ná', viewed as a non-present tense. For 'LEN', we develop a hybrid tense-aspect analysis, with its (past) tense lacking existential closure. By contrast, 'a'- denotes a hybrid perfect with a quantificational tense semantics and an underspecified resultative aspect semantics.

Open Journal Systems (Global Science & Technology Forum)
Openalex Percentile: Top 44%
Sugarcane Cultivation and Processing
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(Past) temporal reference in an aspect prominent language · Open Journal Systems (Global Science & Technology Forum) (2024) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS