Tense and aspect in Latin: towards a Systemic Functional, "three-dimensional" framework for the reading of (historio-)graphic narratives in educational settings

Abstract

The Latin verb tenses are divided into two groups, based on the perfectum and infectum stems. Linguists still disagree on the semantics involved, viz. anteriority vs. simultaneity (relative tense, cf. Pinkster 1983, 2015; Kroon 2007; Adema 2008) or perfectivity vs. imperfectivity (grammatical aspect, cf. Oldsjö 2001; Haverling 2010). Problematic in the literature of both theories are the metafunctionally limited interpretations of these categories. For my close-readings of historiographical narratives, I propose a three- dimensional interpretation of both aspect (termination; global vs. partial view; viewpoint from without vs. from within; cf. Boogaart 2004; Coseriu 1980) and tense (location in our conception of chronology; independent vs. secondary nature based on absolute vs. absolute-relative tense; retrospection from speech moment vs. identification with past reference point) (cf. Aerts 2018). These three dimensions convey ideational (representation of reality), textual (presentation of the text), and interpersonal (interaction with audience) meaning (cf. Halliday and Matthiessen 2014; Thompson 2013), respectively (for inspirational applications of SFL theory, see Kroon 1998, Bache 2008, Bentein 2015, and Aerts 2014). The textual and interpersonal dimensions of both categories may lead to the respective meanings of foreground-background and focalization.This paper focusses on factoring out the metafunctional contributions to the Latin tense/aspect complex and operationalizing the methodology of a three-dimensional close-reading in a statistical analysis in the near future. Such a comprehensive reading with regard to an appreciation of the full (metafunctional) meaning potential of the Latin verbal group may contribute to a more authentic and rewarding reading experience in secondary and higher education.

Full text

TENSE AND ASPECT IN LATIN: TOWARDS ASYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL,
"THREE-DIMENSIONAL" FRAMEWORK FOR THE READING OF
(HISTORIO-)GRAPHIC NARRATIVES IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS
Simon Aerts –28th ESFL Conference, University of Pavia (5-7 July 2018)
DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS
RESEARCH GROUPS: DIALING, GLIMS, GIKS

1. THEORETICAL OBSERVATIONS
3

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O
R07A0:/491S9:5/9B0
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absolute tense

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absolute tense

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absolute tense

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absolute tense absolute-relative tense

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.L!MG0A919/9<14<A4/012045CC;9024524F0;;
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0B01/24<7429/@5/9<124:<1/79?@/024/<4/>04:<1:0C/4<A4XC072C0:/9B0X
Y

MEANING POTENTIAL AND TENSE CHOICE
8

MEANING POTENTIAL AND TENSE CHOICE
/main Latin narrative tenses: perfect, IMPERFECT and historic present indicative
8

MEANING POTENTIAL AND TENSE CHOICE
/main Latin narrative tenses: perfect, IMPERFECT and historic present indicative
/meaning potential:
/combination of three-dimensional aspecto-temporal values
/default values for every verb tense
/tense choice based on most salient meaning(s)
8

MEANING POTENTIAL AND TENSE CHOICE
/main Latin narrative tenses: perfect, IMPERFECT and historic present indicative
/meaning potential:
/combination of three-dimensional aspecto-temporal values
/default values for every verb tense
/tense choice based on most salient meaning(s)
/traditional literature on Latin verb system: different 'uses' of the tenses (labels)
= ideational + textual meaning
8

MEANING POTENTIAL AND TENSE CHOICE
9
VERB TENSE
TENSE_ID
TENSE_TE
ASPECT_ID
ASPECT_TE
LABEL
perfect
E < S
Ey > Ex
terminated
global
narrative perfect
(1) While [the consul and Lentulus] were saying these words, first acrowd of fleeing Romans
and then the enemy fell upon them.Without knowing who [the consul] was, they covered him
with missiles; a horse snatched away Lentulus in the confusion.(Liv.22.49)
perfect, IMPERFECT, historic present

MEANING POTENTIAL AND TENSE CHOICE
10
VERB TENSE
TENSE_ID
TENSE_TE
ASPECT_ID
ASPECT_TE
LABEL
perfect
E < S
Ey > Ex
terminated
global
narrative perfect
perfect
E < R = S
E < S
terminated
global
present perfect
(2) ...,as has been said before, ... (e.g. Liv.30.03)
(3) Since then, only twice in so many years, in so many wars, have such 'rich spoils' been
brought forward;so rare has been the chance of that honour.(Liv. 1.10)
perfect, IMPERFECT, historic present

MEANING POTENTIAL AND TENSE CHOICE
11
VERB TENSE
TENSE_ID
TENSE_TE
ASPECT_ID
ASPECT_TE
LABEL
perfect
E < S
Ey > Ex
terminated
global
narrative perfect
perfect
E < R = S
E < S
terminated
global
present perfect
imperfect
E = R < S
E = R
unterminated
partial
simultaneous background
(e.g. descriptive)
(4) The consuls ... fortified (= R) two camps at almost the same interval as at Gereonium,
having divided their troops as before.The Aufidus, flowing past both camps, PROVIDED access
to water-carriers by virtue of its opportune (for all) location, but not without afight;yet from the
smaller camp, which had been placed across the Aufidus, the Romans FETCHED WATER more
freely, because the other bank HAD no hostile troops.(Liv.22.44)
perfect, IMPERFECT, historic present

MEANING POTENTIAL AND TENSE CHOICE
12
VERB TENSE
TENSE_ID
TENSE_TE
ASPECT_ID
ASPECT_TE
LABEL
perfect
E < S
Ey > Ex
terminated
global
narrative perfect
perfect
E < R = S
E < S
terminated
global
present perfect
imperfect
E = R < S
E = R
unterminated
partial
simultaneous background
(e.g. descriptive)
imperfect
E < S
E > E
unterminated
partial
recurring cycles of
foregrounded events
(5) They TURNED their faces and eyes AROUND to the groans of the wounded, the sound of
blows on body or armour and the mingled shouts and screams of assailants and assailed.
Some were swept in their flight into a crowd of combatants and WERE STUCK there. A throng of
fugitives TURNED others ASIDE who were renewing the fight. (Liv. 22.5)
perfect, IMPERFECT, historic present

2. PERSPECTIVES IN LATIN NARRATIVES
13

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AGF I68>2 J162 5734=> :3; *231=>=4K L2E2 4:C83@ 16242 L7E;4M N8E41 :5E7L; 7N N>2283@ (7?:34
:3; 1623 162 232?C fell upon 162?"I8167=1 O37L83@ L67 J162 5734=>K L:4M 162C covered 68?
L816 ?8448>24P : 67E42 snatched :L:C *231=>=4 83 162 573N=4873"A*8D"QQ"HRF
ASF '62 32<1 ;:CM 162E2N7E2M /:EE7M L67 T)U 162 >71 7N 16:1 ;:CV4 57??:3;M 6:D83@ 5734=>12; 684
57>>2:@=2 :97=1 371683@M put forward 162 41:3;:E; :3; brought 684 N7E?2; =B 1E77B4 across
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B>:3"A*8D"QQ"HXF
perfectM#.Y+%(Z%-'M#68417E85#BE24231

1. EXTERNAL PERSPECTIVE
0vantage point in the speech moment (E < S) + viewpoint from without
0external knowledge, hindsight, objectivity
15
Screenshot from the HBO series Rome,
S02E06 'Philippi' (2007)

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inactivity 83 4:6 72D4 8C 4:6 636=M Q2; B6GG 2; =8D6 5D216 23I =8D6 I9;5D2<6CEG K6<2E;6 8C
4:6 ;G2E5:46D 8C 4:6 2D=M"R8D 4:6 CG95:4 24 4:6 )GG92J 4:8E5: 94 betrayed 4:6 -94MJ saved 4:6 2D=M"
)4 -23326 K2D6GM C9C4M =63 followed 4:6 CG66935 <83;EGJ B:9G6 2G=8;4 4:6 6349D6 2D=M was B94:
4:6 4:6 84:6D QIM935 Q<83;EG">*91"SS"TU@
>S@#"""J#2;#has been said K6C8D6J#"""#>6"5"#*91"#VU"UV@
>V@ ,93<6 4:63J 83GM 4B9<6 93 ;8 =23M M62D;J 93 ;8 =23M B2D;J have ;E<: WD9<: ;789G;W been
brought forwardX;8 D2D6 has been 4:6 <:23<6 8C 4:24 :838ED">*91" !"!U@
perfectJ#.Y+$'R$-&J#:9;48D9<#7D6;634

2. INTERNAL PERSPECTIVE
/identification with past reference point (E = R) + viewpoint from within
/unmediated experience, psychological impact (cf. Walsh 1961)
17
R

2. INTERNAL PERSPECTIVE
/identification with past reference point (E = R) + viewpoint from within
/unmediated experience, psychological impact (cf. Walsh 1961)
18
(5) They TURNED their faces and eyes AROUND to the groans of the wounded, the sound of
blows on body or armour and the mingled shouts and screams of assailants and assailed.
Some were swept in their flight into a crowd of combatants and WERE STUCK there. A throng of
fugitives TURNED others ASIDE who were renewing the fight. (Liv. 22.5)
perfect, IMPERFECT, historic present

3. SCENIC 'CAMERA-EYE' PERSPECTIVE
2narrator is displaced to story-world, and records and transmits the events to the reader
('E = R< S' + viewpoint from within)
19
R

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EMJ *I6>5 4=<4B75 C4: N>>3 5489>:A 4I75@45: B7D>B>36 N? 6C> 4OP8<8458>9 43: 6C>3 I8596 6C>
N466<> N>6@>>3 6C> <8QC6-45B>: 6577;9 C4: N>>3 8386846>:R3>P6A 6C> <>I6 @83Q 7I S4<<8= 43:
$;4389C =4D4<5? >3Q4Q>: @86C 6C> ,7B43 58QC6 @83QA 83 4B433>5 D>5? O3<8T> 4=4D4<5? N466<>"
U75 6C>? V*W 0X >3Q4Q> I5736 67 I5736A N>=4O9> Y983=> 37 577B C4: N>>3 <>I6 67 B43>OD>5
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B43 C4D83Q Q549;>: 6C> 76C>5 /Z[[&W C8B U,X+ C89 C759>"E[8D"KK"\]J
perfectA#(+/&,U&%0A#C896758=#;5>9>36

4. IMMERSIVE EYEWITNESS PERSPECTIVE
0temporal illusion of proximity (E = S) + viewpoint from within
0unmediated experience, audience is drawn ('immersed') into the story
21

4. IMMERSIVE EYEWITNESS PERSPECTIVE
0temporal illusion of proximity (E = S) + viewpoint from within
0unmediated experience, audience is drawn ('immersed') into the story
22
(9) About five hundred Numidians, ... suddenly jumped down from their horses;having thrown
down their bucklers and javelins at the feet of their enemies, and having been accepted in the
midst of the battle line and led to the rear, they were ordered to sit down at the Romans’ backs.
And as long as the battle was initiated at every point, they kept still;... after the strife had taken
hold of everyone’s minds and eyes, they then ... attacked the Roman battle line from behind,
and striking at their backs and hamstrings, effected agreat slaughter and aterror and
confusion that were even greater.(Liv.22.48)
perfect, IMPERFECT, historic present

5. DISTANCED EYEWITNESS PERSPECTIVE
1temporal illusion of proximity (E = S) + viewpoint from without
1visual description by narrator & audience, with commentary and evaluation ('top-of-the-hill')
23

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123456789#:99;<:6=#6>#576?:4:2@#A+#B#&C#D#E:3F56:=2#>764#F:2G6;2
1E:<;89#H3<I7:52:6=#J@#=8778267#K#8;H:3=I3L#F:2G#I6443=287@#8=H#3E89;82:6=#AM265N6>N2G3NG:99MC
OP
AQRCS8E:=T I76<<3H 2G3 7:E37L 2G3@ 89<6 8228IG3H 2G6<3 27665< FG:IG 2G3@ G8H G8H := 2G3 <489937 I845L
26 2G3:7 6F= 27665<L 8=HL G8E:=T 2G;< 8778=T3H 2G3 J82293 9:=3L 598I3H 6= 2G3 7:TG2 F:=T U2G:< 6=3 was
I96<37 26 2G3 7:E37 U2G3 /648= I8E897@L 8=H =3?2 26 2G34 2G3 /648= :=>8=27@"
perfectL#%V.+/W+*'L#G:<267:I#573<3=2

3. METAFUNCTIONAL HIERARCHY
25

METAFUNCTIONAL HIERARCHY IN NARRATIVES
1. Textual meaning: foreground vs. background
2. Interpersonal meaning: perspective
3. Ideational meaning: termination
26
(9) About five hundred Numidians, ... suddenly jumped down from their horses;having thrown
down their bucklers and javelins at the feet of their enemies, and having been accepted in the
midst of the battle line and led to the rear, they were ordered to sit down at the Romans’ backs.
And as long as the battle was initiated at every point, they kept still;... after the strife had taken
hold of everyone’s minds and eyes, they then ... attacked the Roman battle line from behind,
and striking at their backs and hamstrings, effected agreat slaughter and aterror and
confusion that were even greater.(Liv.22.48)
SoA
textual
interpersonal
ideational meaning
jumped down
narrative perfect
historic present
were ordered
narrative perfect
historic present
kept
narrative perfect
historic present
perfect of cessation
attacked
narrative perfect
historic present
effected
narrative perfect
historic present
perfect of success

4. LATIN 'THREE-DIMENSIONAL' TENSE AND ASPECT
IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS
27

ANALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO TEXTS
/common practice in schools (16-18y): reading for content, esp. literary, cultural,
philosophical, historical, rhetorical
/alternative: reading for linguistic subtleties (cf. Van Gils & Adema 2017),
e.g. verbal semantics
/text structure (cf. also particles)
/perspective (cf. also lexis)
/termination (cf. also logic)
/Latin:
/non-communicative language; cf. Nietzsche's lento
/'language awareness', affinity: layers of semantics
28

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-<CC19917<.8:@5.15./05>F>8=;H5<@05<:75C1@:8.8G05<I8=8.80;
-8:C=F78:@51./025=0E8C16@2<99<.8C<=590<:;45J"69170=51?5=<:@F<@0
KL

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-8:C=F78:@51./025=0E8C16@2<99<.8C<=590<:;45J"69170=51?5=<:@F<@0
->2<C.8C045C=1;0620<78:@
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-;0=0C.81:51?5.0E.;45@2<>/8CO20=<.<I=050>8;170;5KI<..=0;D5/0210;D5C<=<98.80;N
-C=1;0620<78:@5<;58==F;.2<.0758:5./8;5>20;0:.<.81:
-<:<=3;8;45
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P.2<78.81:<=5=<I0=5K870<.81:<=O.0E.F<=N5T5>02;>0C.8G05K8:.02>02;1:<=N
-0E02C8;0;45
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PMMM VR

CONCLUDING REMARKS
30

CONCLUDING REMARKS
/Classical Latin tense & aspect: three-dimensional meaning potential
/the most salient meaning leads to the final verb tense choice:
àin narratives, generally: textual < interpersonal < ideational
/tense & aspect combine to convey the perspective (cues!)
/statistical analysis in the near future
/comparison with a Late Latin corpus to check stylistic and diachronic tendencies
/education:
/reading classical texts in all their richness
/language awareness, transfer value
31

SELECTED REFERENCES
Adema, Suzanne M. forthcoming. Tenses in Vergil’s Aeneid. Narrative Style and Structure. Leiden: Brill.
Adema, Suzanne M., and Lidewij W. van Gils. 2017. ‘Epistularum Genera Multa. A Linguistic Approach to an Instructional Use of Text Types in the Epistolary Genre’. Les
Études Classiques 85 (2): 121-144.
Aerts, Simon. 2014. ‘A Systemic Functional “Three-Dimensional” Approach to Aspect in Thucydides’ Histories III’. Symbolae Osloenses 88: 2–41.
———. 2018. ‘Tense, Aspect and Aktionsart in Classical Latin: Towards a New Approach’. Symbolae Osloenses 92: 1–43.
Allan, Rutger J. 2013. ‘History as Presence. Time, Tense and Narrative Modes in Thucydides’. In Thucydides Between History and Literature, edited by Antonis
Tsakm a k i s a n d M e l ina Ta m iola k i , 3 7 1 –90. Berlin: De Gruyter.
Allan, Rutger J., Irene J. F. de Jong, and Casper C. de Jonge. 2017. ‘From Enargeia to Immersion: The Ancient Roots of a Modern Concept’. Style 51 (1): 34–51.
Bache, Carl. 2008. English Tense and Aspect in Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar: A Critical Appraisal and an Alternative. London: Equinox.
Bentein, Klaas. 2015. ‘Aspectual Choice with Verba Dicendi in Herodotus’ Histories’. Emerita 83 (2): 221–45.
Boogaart, Ronny J. U. 2004. ‘Aspect and Aktionsart’. In Morphology: An International Handbook on Inflection and Word-Formation, edited by Geert Booij, Christian
Lehmann, Joachim Mugdan, and Stavros Skopeteas, 1165–80. Berlin: De Gruyter.
Comrie, Bernard. 1985. Tense. Cambridge: University Press.
Coseriu, Eugenio. 1980. ‘Aspect verbal ou aspects verbaux? Quelques questions de théorie et de méthode’. In La notion d’aspect, edited by Robert B. Martin and Jean
David, 13–23. Paris: Librarie Klincksieck.
Halliday, Michael A. K., and Christian M. I. M. Matthiessen. 2014. Halliday’s Introduction to Functional Grammar. 4th edition. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
Haverling, Gerd V.M. 2010. ‘Actionality, Tense, and Viewpoint’. In New Perspectives on Historical Latin Syntax. Vol. 2: Constituent Syntax: Adverbial Phrases, Adverbs,
Mood, Tense, edited by Philip Baldi and Pierluigi Cuzzolin, 277–523. Berlin: De Gruyter.
Jong, Irene J. F. de, and René Nünlist. 2004. ‘From Bird’s Eye View to Close-up The Standpoint of the Narrator in the Homeric Epics’. In Antike Literatur in Neuer
Deutung, edited by Anton Bierl, Arbogast Schmitt, and Andreas Willi, 63–83. Leipzig: Saur.
Kroon, Caroline H.M. 1998. ‘A Framework for the Description of Latin Discourse Markers’. Journal of Pragmatics 30 (2): 205–223.
———. 2007. ‘Discourse Modes and the Use of Tenses In Ovid’s Metamorphoses’. In The Language of Literature: Linguistic Approaches to Classical Texts, edited by
Rutger J. Allan and Michel Buijs, 65–92. Leiden: Brill.
Oldsjö, Fredrik. 2001. Tense and A spect in Caesar’s N arrative. Uppsala: University Library.
Pinkster, Harm. 1983. ‘Tempus, Aspect and Aktionsart in Latin (Recent Trends 1961-1981)’. ANRW 29 (1): 270–320.
———. 2015. The Oxford Latin Syntax. Vol. 1: The Simple Clause. Oxford: University Press.
Reichenbach, Hans. 1947. Elements of Symbolic Logic. New York: Macmillan & Co.
Thompson, Geoff. 2014. Introducing Functional Grammar. 3rd edition. London: Routledge.
Tucker, Gordon H. 1998. The Lexicogrammar of Adjectives: A Systemic Functional Approach to Lexis. London: Cassell.
Walsh, Patrick G. 1961. Livy: His Historical Aims and Methods. Cambridge: University Press.

Simon Aerts
PhD student
DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS –LATIN SECTION
Esimon.aerts@ugent.be
http://research.flw.ugent.be/en/simon.aerts
https://ugent.academia.edu/SimonAerts
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Simon_Aerts