Present interpretations and temporal orientation systems

• Grant number: 17/08138-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: December 01, 2017
• End date: April 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Linguistics - Linguistic Theory and Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Ana Lucia de Paula Muller
• Grantee: Ana Lucia de Paula Muller
• Host Investigator: Brenda Selva Laca Luque
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Université Vincennes Saint-Denis (Paris 8), France

Abstract

This project focusses on simultaneous and habitual/generic present readings in languages of opposite temporal orientations: languages whose temporal systems contrast future to non-future; and languages whose temporal systems contrast past to non-past. We specifically investigate two languages: Brazilian Portugese (Romance) and Karitiana (Tupi). We assume a methodological approach which combines formal syntax and semantics with the study of cross-linguistic variation (typology). Our goal is to reach a formal analysis of the temporal and aspectual properties involved in determining present readings. We aim at colaborating to the discovery of common principles and parameters of variation among temporal and aspectual grammatical systems of human languages. (AU)