5. Cross-linguistic differences in expressing time and universal principles of utterance interpretation
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Katarzyna M. Jaszczolt
Abstract
This chapter addresses the question how linguistic diversity and universalism in the domain of representing time can be reconciled. It is demonstrated how the contextualist theory of Default Semantics (Jaszczolt 2005, 2009, 2010a) accounts for cross-linguistic differences in conveying temporal location, utilising at the same time universal pragmatic principles. This is achieved by allocating information about temporality to different but universally available sources of information about meaning and to different universal processes which interact in producing a representation of the primary, intended meaning. It offers some examples of how lexicon/grammar/pragmatics trade-offs in conveying temporality can be represented in merger representations of Default Semantics, at the same time reflecting the underlying universal principles of the composition of meaning.
Abstract
This chapter addresses the question how linguistic diversity and universalism in the domain of representing time can be reconciled. It is demonstrated how the contextualist theory of Default Semantics (Jaszczolt 2005, 2009, 2010a) accounts for cross-linguistic differences in conveying temporal location, utilising at the same time universal pragmatic principles. This is achieved by allocating information about temporality to different but universally available sources of information about meaning and to different universal processes which interact in producing a representation of the primary, intended meaning. It offers some examples of how lexicon/grammar/pragmatics trade-offs in conveying temporality can be represented in merger representations of Default Semantics, at the same time reflecting the underlying universal principles of the composition of meaning.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Editors and contributors ix
- Foreword: Space and time in languages, cultures, and cognition xiii
- Introduction: Linguistic diversity in the spatio-temporal domain 1
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I. Representing location in space and time
- 1. Spatial relations in Hinuq and Bezhta 15
- 2. Pragmatically disambiguating space 35
- 3. The semantics of the perfect progressive in English 53
- 4. Drowning “into” the river in North Sámi 73
- 5. Cross-linguistic differences in expressing time and universal principles of utterance interpretation 95
- 6. Modelling temporal reasoning 123
- 7. Language-specific perspectives in reference to time in the discourse of Czech, English, and Hungarian speakers 135
- 8. More than “time” 157
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II. Space and time in language acquisition
- 9. L2 acquisition of tense-aspect morphology 181
- 10. Motion events in Japanese and English 205
- 11. ‘He walked up the pole with arms and legs’ 233
- 12. Caused motion events across languages and learner types 263
- 13. Spatial prepositions in Italian L2 289
- 14. Expressing simultaneity using aspect 325
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III. Dynamic relations in space and time domains
- 15. Variation in motion events 349
- 16. Italian motion constructions 373
- 17. A temporal approach to motion verbs 395
- 18. The role of grammar in the conceptualisation of ‘progression’ 417
- 19. The locative PP motion construction in Polish 437
- 20. Path salience in motion descriptions in Jaminjung 459
- Contents of the companion volume: Language, culture, and cognition 481
- Name index 483
- Subject index 487
- Language index 491
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Editors and contributors ix
- Foreword: Space and time in languages, cultures, and cognition xiii
- Introduction: Linguistic diversity in the spatio-temporal domain 1
-
I. Representing location in space and time
- 1. Spatial relations in Hinuq and Bezhta 15
- 2. Pragmatically disambiguating space 35
- 3. The semantics of the perfect progressive in English 53
- 4. Drowning “into” the river in North Sámi 73
- 5. Cross-linguistic differences in expressing time and universal principles of utterance interpretation 95
- 6. Modelling temporal reasoning 123
- 7. Language-specific perspectives in reference to time in the discourse of Czech, English, and Hungarian speakers 135
- 8. More than “time” 157
-
II. Space and time in language acquisition
- 9. L2 acquisition of tense-aspect morphology 181
- 10. Motion events in Japanese and English 205
- 11. ‘He walked up the pole with arms and legs’ 233
- 12. Caused motion events across languages and learner types 263
- 13. Spatial prepositions in Italian L2 289
- 14. Expressing simultaneity using aspect 325
-
III. Dynamic relations in space and time domains
- 15. Variation in motion events 349
- 16. Italian motion constructions 373
- 17. A temporal approach to motion verbs 395
- 18. The role of grammar in the conceptualisation of ‘progression’ 417
- 19. The locative PP motion construction in Polish 437
- 20. Path salience in motion descriptions in Jaminjung 459
- Contents of the companion volume: Language, culture, and cognition 481
- Name index 483
- Subject index 487
- Language index 491
