German Temporal Semantics: Three-Dimensional Tense Logic and a GPSG Fragment [Paperback]

First published in 1985, this book analyses temporal meaning in German. The framework is that of a model-theoretic semantics, more specifically one incorporating a multi-dimensional tense logic. The first chapter presents this logic and argues that three dimensions are optimal for the description of natural language temporalia. The second chapter applies this theory to the analysis of temporal meaning in German. Frame adverbials, the Present and Past Tenses, duratives, aspectual adverbials using in, and the adverbials particle schon are examined. Chapter 3 provides a formal syntax to bear the semantic analysis proposed in the second chapter and the final chapter explores syntactic and semantic extensions of the fragment, showing how the Perfect, the particle noch, the passive, and a distinct reading of frame adverbials may be accommodated.

Introduction; 1. A Reichenbachian Tense Logic; 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Triple Dependence 1.3 What is Reference Time 1.4 The Logic 1.5 The Preterite and the Indexical Interpretation of Reichenbach 1.5.1 The Motivation for Indexical Treatments of Tense 1.5.2 Vagueness and Indexicality 1.5.3 Indefinite Reference to Time 1.6 Temporal Reference in Connected Discourse 1.6.1 The Treatment of Aktionsarten 1.6.2 Time in Connected Discourse 1.6.3 Some Special Uses of the Preterite 1.7 The Need for Three Indices 1.7.1 The Need for at Least Three Indices 1.7.2 More than Three Indices Notes; 2. A Tense Logical Sketch of German; 2.1 Frame Adverbials 2.2 Baeuerle and Stechows Analysis 2.3 The German Present Tense 2.3.1 Semantics of the German Present Tense 2.3.2 Sample Derivation of Complex Truth and Conditions 2.3.3 Why Atelics are Presumed to Refer to Speech Time 2.3.4 Kratzers Speech time Pragmatics 2.3.5 The Nonambiguity of the Present Tense 2.3.6 Conclusion 2.4 Duratives 2.5 Frist Adverbials 2.6 (Temporal) schon 2.6.1 Preliminaries 2.6.2 Other Uses of schon 2.6.3 The Truth Condló,