TEMPORAL LEXEMES: A SEMANTIC AND PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

Temporal lexemes, which express time-related concepts, play a crucial role in language by structuring human perception of events and actions. This study explores the semantic and pragmatic dimensions of temporal lexemes across different languages, with a focus on how they encode temporal relations, deixis, and aspectual distinctions. By examining linguistic data from diverse sources, the analysis highlights the variability in temporal expressions, their interaction with tense and aspect, and their context-dependent interpretations. Additionally, the research investigates how cultural and cognitive factors shape the usage of temporal lexemes, demonstrating that their meanings extend beyond strict chronological reference to encompass broader pragmatic functions. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of temporal reference in language and provide insights into cross-linguistic variation in temporal cognition.