The syntax of time arguments

Abstract This paper develops a model of temporal interpretation based on the following three theses. (i) Tenses, aspects and time adverbs (uniformly analyzed as covert/overt PPs) are spatiotemporal predicates projecting their time-denoting arguments into the syntax as Zeit -phrases (sections 1 and 2). (ii) The time intervals projected into the syntax as either covert arguments of tenses and aspects, or as overt arguments of temporal prepositions can, just as any DP, be restrictively modified and enter into anaphoric dependencies—where anaphora is construed as either covaluation or (semantic) binding. In simple tenses, covaluation between the external and internal arguments of Aspect yields perfective aspect, whereas semantic binding yields neutral aspect (sections 3 and 4). (iii) Temporal interpretation involves computing ordering relations and anaphoric dependencies between time intervals. Temporal computation is subject to economy conditions governing (the representations generated at) each step of a given temporal derivation (section 5).

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