On Aspect, Biaspectuality, and Tenses in the History of Polish

By common consent, one of the most characteristic categories Polish verb is aspect. There can be little doubt that origin aspect category may lie in Proto-Slavic or much further back Proto-Indo- European language. It a moot point whether was already strong Proto-Slavic. Nonetheless, it beyond dispute consequences its emergence were far-reaching and took relatively long time to clarify daughter languages. The various such as aspect, biaspectuality, tense providing main themes present paper closely related did interact, however, essential effects their interaction only identified by scrutiny. In Old Church Slavonic, certain degree competition between observed, this also evident Polish, which tenses like aorist imperfect slowly falling into disuse. Their occurrence quite rare even earliest written records. due course, perfect gained ground pluperfect became almost completely obsolete. Modern latter serves archaize literary texts. stages development, aspectual opposition extended future thereby affecting entire system. Also, aspect-tense system language, tendency prevail over together with gradual decline number biaspectual verbs, still 16th century, seems clear. Most originally initial verbs later perfectivized means prefixes. Thus, simple verbal bases derivatives could establish an partnership. case foreign roots, prefix z -/ s - played pivotal role perfectivation, while other prefixes za po had less important role. process perfectivation so extensive few remained free reminders fact development ongoing process. This shown more recent borrowed roots for anticipated they will form perfective counterparts soon. concludes amount aspectually uncertain status likely reliable indicator earlier periods history An play diachronic corpus-based investigation, which, though considered stepchild Slavic research, help issues