TWO TYPES OF ASPECTUAL CONSTRUCTION IN THE
GOTHIC LANGUAGE. A CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF
ASPECT IN GERMANIC LANGUAGES
DEUX TYPES DE CONSTRUCTION ASPECTUELLE EN
GOTIQUE. CONTRIBUTION A UNE ETUDE DE L’ASPECT
DANS LES LANGUES GERMANIQUES
DOUĂ TIPURI DE CONSTRUCŢIE ASPECTUALĂ IN LIMBA
GOTICĂ. CONTRIBUŢIE LA O ABORDARE A ASPECTULUI
ÎN LIMBILE GERMANICE
Abstract
In this paper it is suggested that in Gothic (an archaic Germanic language attested in the mid-4th century by a translation of the Bible), aspect is marked by two different types of expressions: one using the particle ga in front of the verb form; the other one using composed or periphrastic verb forms such as wisan « be » + participle I to express an on-going process; wairþan« become » + participle I to initiate the process). The gist of the article is the interpretation of wisan + participle I, which is identified as expressing a ‘value of insistance’ and appears either in the form of ‘peremptory assertion’ in dialogues, or as ‘statement of obvious facts’ in narrations.
Résumé
L’article propose de reconnaître deux types d’expression de l’aspect en gotique (langue germanique très archaïque attestée au milieu du IVe siècle par une traduction de la Bible) : l’un avec la particule ga- devant la forme verbale, l’autre faisant appel à des formes verbales composées ou périphrastiques (wisan « être » + participe I pour indiquer la poursuite du procès ; wairþan « devenir » + participe I pour exprimer l’engagement du procès). Le point fort de l’article est l’interprétation sémantique de wisan + participe I, reconnue comme exprimant une ‘valeur d’insistance’, et se manifestant soit comme une ‘assertion péremptoire’ dans le dialogue, soit comme une ‘constatation d’évidence’ dans le récit.
Rezumat
Articolul propune recunoaşterea a două tipuri de expresii in limba gotică (limba germanică , arhaică , atestată in mijlocul sec IV prin traducerea Bibliei): unul cu particula -ga- înaintea formei verbale şi altul făcând apel la formele verbale compuse sau perifrastice (wisan “a fi”+ participiul I pentru a indica urmarea procesului; wairþan “a deveni” + participiul I pentru a exprima angajarea procesului). Esenţial pentru acest articol este demersul de interpretare semantică a structurii wisan + participiul I recunoscută ca exprimând o “valoare de insistenţă” şi manifestându-se ca o “afirmaţie categorică” în dialog sau ca o constatare de evidenţă în povestire.
Keywords: aspect, Gothic, participle I, particle ga, periphrastic verb forms
Mots-clés: aspect, gotique, participe I, particule ga, formes verbales périphrastiques
Cuvinte cheie: aspect, gotic, participiul I, particula ga, forme verbale perifrastice