Linguistic and tense logical considerations on the generality of a three-point structure of tenses

Per V. Hasle

pp. 323-344

in: Jan Faye, UWE Scheffler, Max Urchs (eds), Perspectives on time, Berlin, Springer, 1997

Abstract

This paper is concerned with a specific proposal of a formalism for studying tenses, namely Hans Reichenbach's "three-point structure" [14]. That proposal explicitly claims to be based on Jespersen's ideas on time and tense in [10]. The main goal is to examine the relationship between this logic and its underlying linguistic assumptions, with a particular view to A. N. Prior's tense logic. We bring forth a historical as well as a systematical result. The historical result consists in revealing certain prevalent misunderstandings concerning Reichenbach's linguistic background in Jespersen's work. The systematical result consists in determining a specific relation between some well-established linguistic temporal categories and tense logic. Thus the following study may serve to show how a careful examination of underlying linguistic assumptions may bear on the development of logic, and conversely, how logical observations can be fruitfully employed in the study of language.

Cited authors

Reichenbach Hans