Universal #1394

Legacy number: 1394

 Number  1390
 Original  In retrospective languages obligatory occurrence of past tense implies the same for future tense, the converse holding for prospective languages.
 Standardized  In retrospective languages, IF there is past tense, THEN there will be future tense.
In prospective languages, IF there is future tense, THEN there will be past tense.
 Keywords  tense, past, future
 Domain  inflection, syntax
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  sample of 50 languages in Ultan 1972, Ultan 1978a
 Source  Ultan 1972, Ultan 1978a: 94

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Discussion
Notes
If a present tense may ordinarily mark a Moment of speech (MOS) future or if the latter may be unmarked, the system is prospective.If a present tense may ordinarily mark a MOS past or if the latter may be unmarked, the system is retrospective.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
If a present tense may ordinarily mark a Moment of speech (MOS) future or if the latter may be unmarked, the system is PROSPECTIVE.
If a present tense may ordinarily mark a MOS past or if the latter may be unmarked, the system is RETROSPECTIVE.