Does Language Shape Our Perception of Time?

Discussing the Effects of Using Aspect Based vs Tense Based Languages on Our Perception of Time

Language defines time. That is where I would like to begin. And no, this is not in the hopes of laying out a dramatic hook, but rather to get you thinking about the correlation between language and time from the get go. 

Language, with its often detailed grammatical structures, serves as a cognitive tool mediating our experience of the world. The temporal framework embedded within a speaker's native language has the potential to shape their perception of events. 

Having had a linguistic upbringing in English, I have shared a natural disposition towards evaluating events against the backdrop of time. English, like many other languages, imposes a focus on tense – the positioning of actions across a linear timeline of past, present, and future. This perspective seems natural, even axiomatic. 

However, there are another set of languages that possess a contrasting emphasis on the aspectual nature of verbs—their internal temporal qualities such as completion, duration, or repetition. A good example of this is Greek, a language that I have spent some time learning this month.

This distinction raises a compelling question within the generative grammar framework. To what extent could these divergent linguistic orientations influence the ways in which speakers conceptualise the flow of events? Does the focus on 'when' versus 'how' subtly guide our perceptions of beginnings, endings, and ongoing processes? 

In this article, I shall explore and analyse the contrasting temporal systems of Modern English and Modern Greek. This analysis will serve as a springboard for considering the potential cognitive implications of languages that differentially prioritise tense or aspect.

Artwork - The Distinctive Perceptions of Time Continuum

A Short Story

I could start by formally introducing the concepts of aspect vs tense. But there is an easier way to understand it, especially if you are unfamiliar with Greek, Arabic or other aspect-based languages. 

So, let me tell you a story. A very short story. It’s just three lines. I will write it in English first, and then in Greek. And finally, I will share the ‘literal translation’ of the Greek story in English. We will then discuss the subtle differences that show up.

In Modern English (Tense-focused)

Yesterday, John went to the store. He bought apples and returned home before noon. Today, he is eating those apples.

In Modern Greek (Aspect-focused)

Χθες, ο Γιάννης πήγε στο μαγαζί. Αγόρασε μήλα και γύρισε σπίτι πριν το μεσημέρι. Σήμερα, τρώει αυτά τα μήλα.

Literal Translation of the Greek Version

Yesterday, John went to the store. Bought apples and returned home before noon. Today, eats these apples.

Analysis

The English version clearly marks the temporal sequence with specific tenses: past for the actions done yesterday ("went," "bought," "returned") and present for the action happening today ("is eating"). This showcases how English relies on tense to indicate the time of an action directly.

In contrast, the Greek version, while also using tenses, places a stronger emphasis on the aspect of the action. For instance, Greek verbs carry more information about the nature of the action (completed or ongoing) rather than strictly when it occurred. The literal translation into English misses some nuances, such as the continuous aspect ("eats" rather than "is eating") which in Greek is understood from the context and verb forms. This subtle difference highlights how Greek speakers might perceive and articulate the flow of time differently, focusing more on the action's completion or continuity rather than strictly its position on a timeline.

Understanding Aspect vs Tense 

Now that you have seen a working example of how tense vs aspect focussed languages function differently, I hope you have an intuitive understanding of their distinction. Building upon the example, I will now formally introduce these concepts.

Tense in Modern English

Tense in Modern English primarily focuses on when an action occurs. The language divides time into three broad categories: past, present, and future, each with its own subdivisions to express various nuances of timing and continuity. For instance, the simple past tense ("I walked") conveys a completed action in the past, whereas the present perfect tense ("I have walked") indicates an action that occurred at an unspecified time before now, suggesting a link between the past and the present.

Aspect in Modern Greek

Modern Greek, on the other hand, emphasises aspect over tense. Aspects in language relate to the nature of the action itself—whether it is ongoing, completed, or habitual. Modern Greek uses aspect to convey how an action unfolds over time, regardless of when it happens. For example, the aorist aspect ("Έπαιξα" - "I played") focuses on the action as a completed whole, without specifying the timing, while the present tense can also indicate a habitual action ("Παίζω" - "I play/I am playing") reflecting its ongoing nature.

Illustrative Comparison

To illustrate, consider the simple act of reading a book. In English, one might say, "I read the book yesterday," using the simple past tense to indicate a completed action in the past. The emphasis is on the timing of the action. In contrast, a Greek might say, "Διάβασα το βιβλίο" (Diávasa to vivlío), using the aorist aspect to highlight the action's completion without emphasising the specific time it occurred. The focus is on the nature of the action (its completion) rather than its temporal placement.

This difference in linguistic focus can subtly influence how speakers of each language perceive time and action. In English, the temporal distance and sequence of events are central, fostering a linear perception of time. In Greek, the emphasis on the quality of the action—whether it is ongoing, repeated, or completed—can lead to a more fluid understanding of time, where the boundaries between past, present, and future are not as rigidly defined.

This completes the first half of our article where we define aspect, tense, and how focussing on one or the other can subtly influence our perception of actions and events in the purview of time. The second half of this article will now focus on the philosophical implications of this distinction.

Philosophical Implications

1. The English tense system, by demarcating time into precise categories, mirrors Western philosophy's preoccupation with temporality as a measurable and sequential phenomenon. This reflects a broader cultural tendency towards viewing time as a resource to be managed and optimised, a perspective deeply embedded in the ethos of modernity. 

   In contrast, the aspectual focus of Modern Greek implies a philosophical stance where the essence of an action and its completion take precedence over its temporal locus. This can be seen as aligning with certain strands of existential and phenomenological philosophy, where the emphasis is on being and experience rather than the abstract measurement of time. The Greek aspectual system encourages a perception of time as a backdrop to human actions and experiences, rather than as a series of discrete, quantifiable units.

2. The structure of language not only reflects but also potentially shapes our conceptualisation of time and, by extension, our understanding of existence. 

   In philosophy, time is often contemplated in terms of continuity (the ongoing flow of moments) and change (the progression from one state to another). The way a language handles aspect and tense can profoundly influence its speakers' conceptualisation of these concepts.

3. The linguistic structure of English supports a philosophical view of time as a river, constantly flowing in one direction, carrying us from the past, through the present, and into the future.

   Greek, on the other hand, encourages a perception of time that is more cyclical or qualitative. This aspectual focus can lead to a philosophical stance where time is seen not as a linear path but as a collection of states and transitions.

4. The contrast between the linear temporal orientation of English and the state-oriented perspective of Greek has significant implications for existential philosophy. In a language where time is viewed as a sequence of distinct events (as in English), individuals may be more inclined to perceive their lives as narratives with beginnings, middles, and ends. This narrative structure can influence how people understand their identity and agency, potentially fostering a sense of progress and development over time.

   In languages that emphasise the quality of actions and experiences (as in Greek), there might be a greater focus on the present moment and a deeper appreciation for the intrinsic value of experiences, irrespective of their position in time. This can lead to a philosophical attitude that values being over becoming, where what matters most is not where we are going, but the richness of our current state and actions.

Through this exploration, I have discovered how grammatical distinctions between aspect and tense in languages not only reflect but also shape philosophical concepts of time, continuity, and change. These linguistic structures influence our existential perceptions, guiding us towards different understandings of our place in the temporal fabric of the universe.

I hope you found this article as interesting to read and as I found it interesting to write. I understand that the nuances between these languages may be subtle. But it is in these subtleties that we find explanation for the contrasting perspectives between different cultures with respect to time.

---