The aspectual meaning and aspectual positioning of the verb base form ∅ in Early Middle Japanese

Abstract This paper examines the aspectual meaning and positioning of the verb base form ∅ in Early Middle Japanese. This paper classifies verbs based on four temporal features: [activity][telic][durative] and [intentionality]. It also examines the aspectual meanings of different types of verbs in both narrative and non-narrative sections of two Heian period narratives, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter and Tales of Ise . It elucidates the aspectual influence on ∅ by both the literary style and the temporal features of the verb. Compared to narrative section, the ∅ in non-narrative sections tends to be strongly imperfective. Furthermore the ∅ in “punctual telic verbs” with the temporal features of [−durative][+telic] absolutely expresses an event in the perfective aspect, whereas the ∅ in “atelic verbs” and “phenomenon verbs” with the temporal features of [+durative][−telic] tends to express an event in the imperfective aspect. In conclusion, the ∅, is aspectually positioned as a “neutral” in Early Middle Japanese.