Page 341 - A GRAMMAR OF BHOJPURI _ PhD Dissertation 2020 TU

b) Grammatical perfectivity
Grammatically, perfective aspect looks the situation from outside, not

necessarily at any internal structure of the situation. According to Comrie (1976:18),
the perfectivity denotes a complete situation with beginning, middle and end. It is
concerned with temporal boundedness and duration of a situation.

Perspective of perfective aspect focuses on termination and boundedness, so, it
is strongly associated with the past tense. Using the perfective aspect is akin to

observing an event from far away, thus through a narrow-angle zoom lens the event is
1
so far that it appear small, compact and well-bounded (Givón, 2001:288-9).
Figure 10.1: Perfective lens focus
-----

point of view
Source: Givón (2001a:289)

10.2.2 Imperfective

Perspective of the imperfective aspect focuses away from termination and
boundaries. Imperfective aspect is akin to observing the event from nearby, through a

wide angle ('fish-eye') lens. The event is so near that its boundaries are outside the lens's
field of vision. All one can see is a continuous unbounded stretch (Givón, 2001a:289).
Figure 10.2: Imperfective lens focus

--------------------------

point of view
Source: from Givón (2001a:289)

The imperfective category is further sub-divided into two main divisions:
ongoing process and repeated events. Imperfective category in Bhojpuri also abides

1. As perfective aspect is strongly associated with past tense, it is very clearly described in sub-section
10.2.3 of this chapter.
313