The debate on the question of “tense” and “aspect” in the Stoics’ linguistic theory (original) (raw)

Conceptions of Time in Greek and Roman Antiquity

The debateo nt he question of "tense" and "aspect" in the Stoics' linguistic theory Abstract: This essayoffers an in-depth discussion of the widelydebated question as to whether the Stoics arranged their system of tenses on an aspectual basis, as originallysuggested by Pohlenz (1939). Manysubsequent authorsembraced this hypothesis, while others rejected it.T he first part of the chapter discusses the Stoic theory of time from ageometrical-physical perspective,inorder to evaluate its compatibility with the theory transmitted by grammarians, and particularly by ascholium to Dionysius Thrax by the 7th-century Byzantine commentator Stephanus. The essayt hen analyses the various forms of diairesis proposed for Greek tenses by modern authors who have investigated this topic (Pohlenz, Barwick, Versteegh, Berrettoni, Mársico). Finally, it adduces the main reasons in support of the hypothesis that the Stoics adopted the category of aspect, which was alreadyt ob ef ound in their metaphysical reflection on space, time, and movement,prior to its application to the field of tenses,asreportedbygrammarians. 1P remise It is well-known that the linguistic categories identified by the Stoics lie, through the mediation of Alexandrian and Roman grammarians, at the basis of the grammatical tradition extendingd own to the present day. In addition to the classification of the so-called parts of speech (μέρη τοῦ λόγου), which werei ncreased from Aristotle'sthree¹ to six,² the Stoics' work is important for its systematisation of Greek verbal tenses.³  Or four,dependingonw hether,i na ddition to the ὄνομα, ῥῆμα,a nd σύνδεσμος,wec onsider the ἄρθρον ap art of speech: see Pinborg1 975, 72-75.  It seems as though Zeno and Cleanthes initiallya cknowledgedf ivep arts of speech: proper name (ὄνομα), common noun (προσηγορία), verb (ῥῆμα), article/pronoun (ἄρθρον), and conjunction (σύνδεσμος). LaterA ntipater added as ixth: adverb (μεσότης). See Pinborg1 975, 99.  See Frede1987, 305 and ff.; Ildefonse 2000,301: "La scholie de Stephanos atteste que la théorie des tempse st […]c onstituée dans le stoïcisme." Giovanni Manetti,U niversityo fS iena OpenAccess.