Re: tense marking and typology

Nik Taylor wrote:

> Well, _tense_ is, by definition, time, but not all languages have
> tense.  A number of languages merely indicate aspect (e.g., perfect,
> progressive, habitual, etc.).  However, the European three-time is not
> the only system.  A number of language have past and non-past, for
> instance.  And others have more than three.  I read of a Bantu language
> with the following system (IIRC)
[skip list]

... not to mention some languages also have a  "mythological past", for
events so far back in time, no one really knows what to make of them
for sure.

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Tom Wier <artabanos@...>
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<http://www.angelfire.com/tx/eclectorium/>
"Cogito ergo sum, sed credo ergo ero."

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