Aspect Forms Variations - Assignment Example

Simple present tense-Sentence 14 is highly accepted (88%) because it directly shows where Mary is at present inclusive of the word ‘now’ to bring out the effectiveness of the tense. Sentence 5 is also accepted highly but not as much as 14 because it implies what the function of the bridge is at the present moment and that is it connects Detroit to Windsor.

Future tense-sentence 8 has a higher acceptability (86%) because it is expected that the next day the action of traveling to New York has a high probability of happening and one can assume for a fact that it will take place. On the other hand, sentence 10 has a slightly lower acceptability (67%) because there is a probability that the bridge is existence but cannot be used as it is still in its new state. existing but still in its new state thus making the sentence slightly incorrect when put in the future tense.

The given data suggests that the relationship between words and their meanings should follow certain rules to convey the message intended clearly.

The acceptability of the sentence in Spanish because it is incorrect based on the tense in which the word ‘travels’ is as it implies a habit hence it does not correspond with the  ‘tomorrow’ in the same sentence since it is a future timing.

This suggests that the interaction between the native language and the language universals are almost the same from different perspectives as the tenses and timing are put into greater consideration. We find that in the correctly tensed and timed sentences, the percentage acceptability is higher in the native language than in the wrongly phrased sentences.

Progressive tense-Sentence 9 (76%) has a higher acceptability because it directly portrays a continuing action which is the smoking of cigarettes by John at present unlike sentence 4 (32%) whereby the action of traveling is postponed to a future time (tomorrow).

Simple present tense-Sentence 14 is highly accepted (92%) because it directly shows where Mary is at present inclusive of the word ‘now’ to bring out the effectiveness of the tense. Sentence 5 is also accepted highly (73%) but not as much as 14 because it implies what the function of the bridge is at the present moment and that is it connects Detroit to Windsor.

Future tense-sentence 10 has a higher acceptability (87%) in Japanese because it is expected that the bridge will be able to achieve the desired action of connecting Detroit to Windsor at a certain time in the future. On the other hand, sentence 8 has a slightly lower acceptability (81%) than 10 because even when the word ‘tomorrow’ is removed, the sentence still retains its original meaning in the future tense.

I find the major differences in sentences 1, 2,4,6,7,9,10, and 13. The difference may be due to the difference in tense aspect of the native languages Japanese and Spanish regarding the universal languages and at the same time universal grammar.

There appears to be a similarity in responses between the Spanish and Japanese speakers in sentences 3,5,8,11,12 and 14 due to the minor differences in acceptability percentages. This similarity is taken into consideration regarding the time aspect which remains to be constant in all languages, while at the same time, the similarity is not related in any way to the principle and parameter hypothesis.

I can generally conclude that the aspect systems of time and tenses go hand in hand to deliver the effective intention of the message passed in a sentence and at the same time relate to the critical aspect of L2 where the relation of input and output can be handled.