Abstract: This paper originated with a question : is a relative tense necessary in interpretation of a Korean tense? In Korean, the tense isn't expressed relatively, because the cognition time morpheme which acts as a standard point of tense morpheme is grammaticalized by the present and past.
Principles of tense representation in Korean are as follows :
Firstly, the Korean tense is represented by a tense morpheme standardizing the cognition time morpheme. Cognition time morphemes which act as a standard point of tense morpheme are '-tə' indicating the cognition time of the past and '-ni/O-' indicating the present.
Secondly, an object of tense representation is in a finite situation. In the finite situation, tense and cognition time morphemes are invariably manifested, and the tense is interpreted by a tense morpheme at the cognition time morpheme.
Thirdly, in the non-finite conjunctive clause which tense or cognition time morphemes are not represented the tense morpheme is not represented according to the tense rules.
Fourthly, the non-finite embedded clause in which tense or cognition morphemes are not represented is not a object for tense interpretation. The non-finite embedded clause expresses a generic situation.
Fifthly, a complex clause with a quotation expresses situations of two discourse space, discourse space of the quotation clause and discourse space of the matrix sentence. The tense of a quotation clause is expressed in situation of discourse space of a quotation clause and the tense of a matrix sentence is expressed in situation of discourse space of a matrix clause.
Sixthly, in order to express the situations with vividness, some speakers expresses the tense by shifting discourse space(discourse time). In such a situation, the tense is represented by the tense morpheme standardizing the shifted discourse time.
Publication Year: 2005
Publication Date: 2005-09-01
Language: en
Type: article
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