Article published In: Asian Languages and Linguistics
Vol. 6:2 (2025) ► pp.406–438
The aspectual meaning and aspectual positioning of the verb base form ∅ in Early Middle Japanese
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Published online: 29 January 2026
https://doi.org/10.1075/alal.24016.wei
https://doi.org/10.1075/alal.24016.wei
Abstract
This paper examines the aspectual meaning and positioning of the verb base form ∅ in Early Middle Japanese. This
paper classifies verbs based on four temporal features:
[activity][telic][durative] and [intentionality].
It also examines the aspectual meanings of different types of verbs in both narrative and non-narrative sections
of two Heian period narratives, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter and Tales of Ise.
It elucidates the aspectual influence on ∅ by both the literary style and the temporal features of the verb. Compared to narrative
section, the ∅ in non-narrative sections tends to be strongly imperfective. Furthermore the ∅ in “punctual telic verbs” with the
temporal features of [−durative][+telic] absolutely expresses an event in the perfective aspect, whereas the ∅ in “atelic verbs”
and “phenomenon verbs” with the temporal features of [+durative][−telic] tends to express an event in the imperfective aspect. In
conclusion, the ∅, is aspectually positioned as a “neutral” in Early Middle Japanese.
Keywords: verb base form ∅, aspect, unmarked, imperfective, neutral
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Previous research
- 3.Examination of Tale of the Bamboo Cutter and Tales of Ise
- 3.1The scope of ∅ considered in this paper
- 3.2Examination results of ∅ in The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter and Tales of Ise
- 3.2.1Necessary verb classifications for the examination
- 3.2.2∅ in The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter and Tales of Ise
- 3.3Tendencies in the semantic selection of ∅
- 4.The positioning of ∅ in the aspectual systems of Early Middle Japanese
- 5.Conclusion
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Notes
References
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