Contrastive grammar and culture: the alternation of verbal forms in the interaction of tense, mood and aspect in translation studies

Abstract

In studies based on the theme of languages in/of contact, the process of language acquisition is treated as a relative process, which involves many factors determined by the context of acquisition and of topical and dynamic uses of languages in different communicative environments. In these studies it is possible to identify that next to sociolinguistic and sociocultural factors, other factors established by structural and conceptual dimensions also emanate as relevant to the process of acquisition and use of languages. In this project we united the paradigm of the Sociolinguistics to the paradigm of the Contrastive Linguistics (Kontrastive Linguistik), more precisely of the Contrastive Grammar, in interaction with the Contrastive Culture (Kulturkontrastive Grammatik). The object of our study is the form and the functionality of verbal forms in German and Portuguese. The aim of this study is to identify and to analyze the choice of verbal forms in translations of contemporary literary texts in the pair of languages selected based on the alternation of these forms in the interaction of Tense, Mood and Aspect, with special attention to the verbal aspect and the distinction between grammatical aspect (Aspekt) and lexical aspect (Aktionsart).