Re: aspects of process

Jesse Bangs wrote:

> > It also has three special points: the initiative (beginning), the
> > terminative
> > stopping point), the completitive (natural end point).
> > A process that stops *after* its natural end has a fourth stage: the
> > superfective.
>
> Hmmm.  Yivríndil distinguishes four phases of an action, which I've been
> calling the inchoative, progressive, cessative, and perfect.  They're
> defined as follows:
>
> Inchoative - the moment or breif space of time when the action begins
> Progressive - the span of time when the action is ongoing
> Cessative - the moment or brief space of time when the actions stops
> Perfect - the span of time after an action has stopped
>
> Are these names acceptable?  Based on what you've written I'd call these
> initiative, continuative, terminative, and perfective, but I'm loathe to
> change the terms.  Besides, I called the inchoative the "inceptive" for a
> long time, which I actually like better.
Well, the names given in the literature about aspect are really only
theoretical types, so I'd say there's no real reason to change them:  you're
going to have to define how aspect works in *your* language anyways.
Every language differs at least somewhat in its usage of similar aspects,
so the names are in most cases little more than labels.

===================================
Thomas Wier | AIM: trwier

"Aspidi men Saiôn tis agalletai, hên para thamnôi
  entos amômêton kallipon ouk ethelôn;
autos d' exephugon thanatou telos: aspis ekeinê
  erretô; exautês ktêsomai ou kakiô" - Arkhilokhos