In their analysis of the perfect in English and German Klein and Vater postulate that the English present perfect and the German Perfekt are very much the same except that the Perfekt has two additional usages. They refer to Anderson (Anderson, 1982:228) and list five major usages of perfect in the English language to which exist corresponding usages in the German Perfekt and give the following examples – the example for the present continuous is left out because it does not concern the analysis given in this paper:
1. Experiential
Have you ever been to Japan?
Sind sie je in Japan gewesen?
2. Current relevance of anterior
He has studied the whole book. (So he can help.)
Paul hat sich mit Biologie befasst. (Paul kennt sich damit aus.)
3. New situation, „hot news“
The Etna has just erupted!
Eben hat es geblitzt!
4. Result-state
He has gone. (or) He is gone. (is not here)
Er ist weggegangen. (Er ist weg.)
The two additional functions they see are that the Perfekt can easily relate to the future and often functions like the English simple past as can be shown by the following examples:
1. The Colossus of Rhodos weighed 100 tons.
Der Koloss von Rhodos hat 100 Tonnen gewogen
2. Tomorrow at ten, Peter will have left London.
Morgen um zehn hat Peter London verlassen.
In their proceeding they postulate that the tense systems of English and German do not mainly differ with respect to the perfect but that the role of the present tense is to blame for the observation made in the beginning. They base this conclusion on an excerpt from Comrie who wrote about the compositional structure of the perfect – being a composite of a present tense auxiliary and a past participle – that “the present auxiliary conveys the present meaning, while the past participle conveys that of past action” (Comrie, 1976:107).
Klein and Vater’s assumption is that in the English language the present tense is closely bound to the moment of speech whereas in German it is relatively free in this regard (Klein/Vater, 1998:221). This led to a lively discussion in the course with two main points. The first being whether it is justified to state that English and German differ crucially in their usage of the present tense, and the second, assuming this difference really exists, whether it is the reason for the additional functions of the Perfekt.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Theoretical preliminaries
- Prerequisites
- Representation of time
- Definition of tense
- The Reichenbach theory
- Modifications to Reichenbach's theory
- Prerequisites
- Present tense
- Analysis of the present tense
- Präsens in German
- Present in English
- Comparison of English present and German Präsens
- Klein and Vater's view of the Präsens and the simple present
- The relevance of the present for the interpretation of the perfect - a review of "The Perfect in English and German"
- Concluding remarks
- References
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper critically reviews Wolfgang Klein and Heinz Vater's analysis of the perfect tense in English and German, focusing on their assertion that differences in the present tense account for discrepancies in the perfect. The paper aims to examine the validity of this claim by analyzing the usage of the present tense in both languages and exploring its implications for the interpretation of the perfect.
- Definition and analysis of tense in English and German.
- Comparison of the present tense in English and German.
- The role of the present tense in the interpretation of the perfect.
- Critical evaluation of Klein and Vater's theory.
- Exploration of the differences and similarities between the English perfect and German Perfekt.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces Klein and Vater's claim that the English present perfect and German Perfekt are largely similar, with the Perfekt exhibiting two additional usages. It highlights Klein and Vater's examples illustrating five major usages of the perfect in English, with corresponding German Perfekt equivalents, and their assertion that the Perfekt's additional functions relate to its connection to the future and its similarity to the English simple past. The chapter concludes by outlining the paper's objective: to investigate the validity of Klein and Vater's assertion regarding the role of the present tense in accounting for the differences between the perfect tenses in English and German.
Theoretical preliminaries: This chapter establishes a theoretical foundation for the analysis. It defines tense, introducing a linear representation of time (past, present, future) to locate situations. It then presents Reichenbach's theory of tense and discusses subsequent modifications. The focus is on creating an unambiguous terminological basis for analyzing the present and perfect tenses in English and German, laying the groundwork for the comparative analysis that follows.
Present tense: This chapter delves into a detailed analysis of the present tense in both English and German. It examines the characteristics of the present tense in each language, comparing their usages and identifying any significant differences. The chapter examines the extent to which the English present tense is closely tied to the moment of speech, contrasting it with the relatively freer usage of the German Präsens. It also directly addresses Klein and Vater's perspective on the present tense and its connection to the simple present, setting the stage for the subsequent chapter’s discussion on the implications for the perfect tense.
Keywords
English present tense, German Präsens, English perfect, German Perfekt, tense, aspect, modality, Reichenbach's theory, Klein and Vater, time representation, grammatical analysis, comparative linguistics.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Critical Review of Klein and Vater's Analysis of the Perfect Tense
What is the main focus of this paper?
This paper critically examines Wolfgang Klein and Heinz Vater's analysis of the perfect tense in English and German. It specifically focuses on their argument that differences in the present tense explain discrepancies in the perfect tenses of the two languages.
What are the key objectives of this research?
The paper aims to investigate the validity of Klein and Vater's claim by analyzing the present tense in English and German and exploring how this impacts the interpretation of the perfect. It seeks to define and analyze tense in both languages, compare their present tenses, explore the present tense's role in interpreting the perfect, critically evaluate Klein and Vater's theory, and compare the English perfect and German Perfekt.
What theoretical framework is used?
The analysis builds upon Reichenbach's theory of tense and its subsequent modifications. The paper establishes a clear definition of tense and uses a linear representation of time (past, present, future) to analyze the location of situations within time. This provides a consistent framework for comparing the English and German tenses.
How does the paper analyze the present tense?
The paper provides a detailed comparison of the present tense in English and German. It examines the characteristics and usage of the present tense in each language, highlighting key differences. A key point of comparison is the degree to which the English present tense is tied to the moment of speech compared to the German Präsens. The analysis directly addresses Klein and Vater's perspective on the present tense and its link to the simple present.
What is the role of the present tense in interpreting the perfect, according to the paper?
The central argument explores how differences and similarities in the present tense between English and German contribute to the differences and similarities observed in the perfect tenses (English perfect and German Perfekt). The paper investigates whether Klein and Vater's assertion that the differences in the present tense are the key to understanding the differences in the perfect is accurate.
What are the key findings or conclusions (as previewed in the document)?
The preview does not explicitly state conclusions but suggests the paper will critically evaluate Klein and Vater's theory, comparing the usage of the present tense in both languages and determining its implications for understanding the perfect tenses. The full analysis will determine the validity of Klein and Vater's claim concerning the relationship between the present tense and the perfect.
What are the key chapters and their contents?
The paper includes an introduction outlining Klein and Vater's claim and the research objective; a section on theoretical preliminaries defining tense and introducing Reichenbach's theory; a chapter dedicated to a detailed analysis of the present tense in English and German; a chapter reviewing the relevance of the present tense for interpreting the perfect, specifically referencing Klein and Vater's work "The Perfect in English and German"; and concluding remarks and references.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
Keywords include: English present tense, German Präsens, English perfect, German Perfekt, tense, aspect, modality, Reichenbach's theory, Klein and Vater, time representation, grammatical analysis, comparative linguistics.
- Quote paper
- Philipp Helle (Author), 2005, The present tense in English and German and its relevance for the interpretation of the perfect, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/52519
