9. The category of aspect

In modern english

1. The definition of aspect as a verbal category.

2. Different approaches to the category of aspect:

• Semantic interpretation of the aspect (G. Curme, M. Deutschbein, A.G. Kennedy).

• The approach denying the existence of aspect in Modern English (H. Sweet, O. Jespersen, L. Alexander), or: the interpretation of aspect within the category of tense.

• The so-called “blend” approach to the category of tense, aspect and perfect (I.P. Ivanova, V.L. Kaushanskaya et al, V. V. Gurevich).

• Dual interpretation of the semantic content of aspect (Quirk et al, G. Leech, J. Svartvik, Longman grammar).

• Interpretation of aspect as a separate grammatical category (A.I. Smirnitsky, V.N. Yartseva, B.A. Ilyish, B.S. Khaimovich, B.J. Rogovskaya, M.Y. Blokh, Leipzig grammar of English).

• Differentiating between grammaticalized and lexicalized aspects in English (B. Comrie).

3. The connection of the aspect interpretation with lexicological issues: terminative and durative verbs.

4. The correlation of English aspect forms and Russian aspect forms of the verb.

1. The definition of aspect as a verbal category

The grammatical analysis of aspect has proved to be one of the most complex areas of English linguistics. The definition of aspect as a verbal category presents certain difficulties due to a number of reasons. The first is interlingual, the second refers to semantics, i.e. content of this category in English, and the third is connected with the way this category can be expressed comprising concrete grammatical forms in combination with the lexical meaning of verbs.

The interlingual difficulty may be explained as the one arising from the comparison of two languages. The point is that the Russian aspect has a different expression and a different meaning. Its meaning may be described as expression of completeness or incompleteness of an action. In terms of form it is presented by means of derivation. On the whole, it makes one of the most typical features of the grammatical structure of the Russian verb, governing its tense both formally and semantically [Блох 1983: 155].

In English the aspective meaning is of a different nature. The simple transference of the interpretation of the Russian aspect into English may be misleading. Is it the opposition of completeness or incompleteness that constitutes the grammatical meaning of the English category? Or is it something different? Completeness can be expressed by a simple verb form: He felt better when he woke. He came home at 6. He finally built his house.

The nature of English aspect per se poses difficulties for linguists who aim at disclosing its content. Thus, O.S. Akhmanova defines the English category of aspect as a grammatical category designating peculiar properties, the character of the given process, i.e. in its relationship to the inner limit, result, continuity, repeatedness, etc. [Ахманова 1969: 75]. According to M.Y. Blokh, «the aspective meaning of the verb, as different from its temporal meaning, reflects the inherent mode of the process irrespective to its timing” [Блох 1983: 155]. The Linguistic Encyclopedia defines aspect as a grammatical category identifying the way the given action proceeds in time or is distributed in time (“как протекает во времени или распределяется во времени” (А.М. Пешковский) обозначенное глаголом действие) [ЛЭС: 83]. Very close to this definition is the approach to aspect interpretation taken by B. Comrie. He understands aspect as a way the internal temporal constituency of a situation is viewed [Comrie 1998: 3].

According to V.V. Gurevich, the aspective meanings cover the range of completeness (resultativeness) and incompleteness (duration) [Гуревич 2003: 37-38] and are inseparable from tense characteristics.

The Leipzig Grammar of English emphasizes that “the category of aspect has to be grouped together with those linguistic means indicating the focus of the speaker’s interest in the sentence. <…> The categorical meaning of aspect indicates that the speaker wants to attract attention to the process/state described in the sentence itself. In this connection the special features of actual progress/continuation, temporariness or incompletion at a given time often come to the foreground” [English Grammar Leipzig 1977: 165-166]. Thus the category of aspect consists of two forms: the plain and the expanded.

David Crystal in the Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English language points out that “aspect refers to how the time of action of the verb is regarded – such as whether it is complete, in progress, or showing duration” [Crystal 1995: 225]. A similar definition is given in Longman Grammar. The authors of this fundamental project come out with the idea that “aspect relates to considerations such as the completion or lack of completion of events or states described by a verb” [Longman Grammar 2000: 460] which leads to the recognition of two aspects: perfective and progressive.

The complexity of the interpretation of aspect in English is aggravated by the fact that the aspective meaning can be in-built in the semantic nature of the verb. All these factors contribute to the controversial character of this category and to the existence of a number of different interpretations of aspect.

1. Aspect may be interpreted as a category of semantics rather than that of grammar.

2. Aspect is not recognized as a grammatical category at all.

3. Aspect is seen as “blended” with tense and is regarded as a part of the tense-aspect system.

4. Aspect and tense are recognized as two distinct grammatical categories with aspect comprising continuous and common aspect forms.

5. Aspect is represented by two sets of forms: progressive and perfective.

6. Aspect in English comprises an opposition of Perfective ÷ non-Perfective, with the Perfective aspect being not grammaticalized.