Entre la realitat i la irrealitat: un concepte semàntic

Abstract

The starting point of this investigation of the Catalan tense system is the observation that the various systematization proposals are based on equating the linguistic tense with real time, which cannot be accepted as an empirical basis. In contrast, Harald Weinrich's system offers a solid statistical basis on which the description of a tense system can be built. So, one arrives at the result that the “real-unreal” distinction is the first and most important feature, and the only one in which all tenses participate. The result is a continuum from the absolute real (véns, has vingut, venies / vingueres, havies vingut, hagueres vingut) through sure realization (vindràs, hauràs vingut, vinguis, hagis vingut) and the dubious realization (vindries, vinguessis) up to absolute unreal (hauries vingut, haguessis vingut).