时态的功能研究

On the Functions of Tense

文章基于系统功能语法,着重探讨时态的多重功能。研究认为,时态具有三重功能,即概念功能、人际功能和语篇功能。时态的概念功能包括经验功能和逻辑功能:前者是指时态可表达过去、现在和将来的经验;后者通过三种关系得以体现:依赖、并列和自主的关系。时态的人际功能具有广义和狭义之分:前者是指时态具有构建不同参与者之间人际关系的功能,后者是指时态可以形成表达情态意义的连续体。时态的语篇功能是指时态在语篇范围内构成了一条时态链,该时态链有动态和静态之分。

This paper explores the multifunctions of tense based on Systemic Functional Grammar. It is found that tense has three functions： ideational,interpersonal and textual. The ideational function of tense consists of experiential and logical function. Experiential function refers to that tense can express experience occurring in the past,at present or in the future,and logical function is expressed through three types of relationship： hypotactic,paratactic and independent. The interpersonal function can be understood either in a broad or a narrow sense. In a broad sense,it construes interpersonal relationships among different participants; in a narrow sense,it expresses modality meaning on certain continuums. The textual function of tense means that a chain of tense is formed in a text,and this chain can be either dynamic or static.