The aspect-temporal semantics in readings of simultaneity and habituality

Abstract

This paper focusses on the semantics of the present tense inflexion in Brazilian Portuguese (BP) within the framework of Formal Semantics. It aims at cooperating with the understanding of the relationship between tense and aspect in the generation of the meaning of sentences. More specifically, it aims at determining which are the temporal and aspectual properties that license habitual and simultaneous readings of the Simple Present and of the Present Progressive in BP. It claims that present tense sentences with simultaneous readings: (i) denote a single event, individuated by its running time; (ii) express identity between Topic Time and Speech Time. We claim that the simultaneous readings generated by the Progressive bear imperfective aspect; whereas the simultaneous readings generated by the Simple Present bear perfective aspect. For habitual sentences, we claim that they: (i) express the inclusion of Speech Time within Topic Time; (ii) are generated by the iteration of the respective Simple Present and Progressive sentences. Thus, they denote plural events.