Sonnenhauser, Barbara
Yet There's Method In It

Semantics, Pragmatics and the Interpretation of the Russian Imperfective Aspect.

This study is concerned with aspect semantics and interpretation, the main focus being on the Russian imperfective aspect. Combining selection theory, interval semantics and neo-Gricean pragmatics, a cross-linguistic theory of aspect is established that allows for language specific analyses based on a clearly structured typology of aspect systems. The semantics of aspect is captured by a cross-linguistically available set of features and relations that are language-specifically modified within predictable ranges. This semantic basis is embedded into a pragmatic framework consisting of generalised conversational implicatures, which are employed in order to guide the inference of additional information in a systematic way. This interaction of semantics (encoded information) and pragmatics (inferred information) allows to straightforwardly account for the interpretation of the Russian imperfective aspect. The cross-linguistic applicability of the proposed analysis is illustrated by referring to the aspect systems in Bulgarian and Turkish. 272 Seiten mit einigen Tab., broschiert (Slavistische Beiträge; Band 449/Verlag Otto Sagner 2006) leichte Lagerspuren