What is it about?
The author applies the comparative method for the reconstruction of earlier verbal systems (tense, aspect, voice) in the Afro-Asiatic family of languages (Semitic, Berber, Cushitic, Old Egyptian and Chadic). Moving back in time from the documented verbal systems of Semitic, Berber and Old Cushitic the state of affairs during the common stage of Proto-Semito-Berbero-Cushitic is reconstructed. With the addition of Old Egyptian and Chadic data important conclusions regarding the elusive Proto-Afro-Asiatic are reached. The later development of tense and aspect in Modern Aramaic and Arabic vernacular languagesSemitic languages from their earlier stages is outlined.
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Why is it important?
There are three important aims of this monograph: (i) The viability of the comparative method for the reconstruction of the morpho-syntactic systems of tense and aspect (so far the comparative method has been predominantly used in the area of phonology) (ii) Moving from the earlier stages of individual languages towards their later stages (Middle and Early Modern) it is important to ascertain the continuity of the aspectual categories realized increasingly by analytic constructions (iii) Unlike in various 'traditional' presentation the morpho-syntactic paradigms are presented in systemic terms - aspectual categories (Imperfective, Perfective and Perfect) are arranged horizonatlly and other verbal categories (tense and mood) are arranged vertically.
Perspectives
The author demonstates that it is imperative to work in a larger typological framework and that in the field of Afro-Asiatic linguistics valuable insights can be gained from the study of parallel phenomena in Indo-European languages. At the same time, Indo-Europeanists will profit from the study of typologically earlier aspect-prominent systems of Afro-Asiatic languages. It is hoped that more work in the other language families along the lines of this typological and diachronic study will yield significant contributions to our understanding of the universals of tense and aspect.
Dr Vit M. Bubenik
Memorial University of Newfoundland
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This page is a summary of: Development of Tense/Aspect in Semitic in the Context of Afro-Asiatic Languages, April 2017, John Benjamins,
DOI: 10.1075/cilt.337.
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