This paper introduces the framework for a new project on the categories of tense, aspect and Aktionsart in Latin. In the first section, the relevant concepts are defined in terms of general linguistics. The second section provides an overview of the existing theories regarding the verb system and the categories of tense and aspect in Latin. Their shortcomings are listed while the strong points serve as the basis for the development of the current framework. In the third section, Bache’s [2008. English Tense and Aspect in Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar: A Critical Appraisal and an Alternative. Discussions in Functional Approaches to Language. London: Equinox.] SFL-inspired account of English tense and aspect is applied to the Latin verb system, conceptualizing tense and aspect in terms of three metafunctions or dimensions of meaning: ideational (representation of reality), textual (presentation of the text) and interpersonal (interaction with the audience). In the fourth section, the framework is illustrated with texts from Caesar, Livy and Sallust, showing that “perspective” (focalization) is essential to the linguistic analysis of narratives.

中文翻译：

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古典拉丁语中的时态、方面和动作：迈向新方法

本文介绍了一个关于拉丁语时态、方面和 Aktionsart 类别的新项目的框架。在第一部分中，相关概念是根据一般语言学定义的。第二部分概述了现有的关于动词系统和拉丁语时态和方面类别的理论。列出了它们的缺点，同时将优点作为开发当前框架的基础。在第三部分，Bache's [2008. 韩礼德系统功能语法中的英语时态和方面：批判性评价和替代。语言功能方法的讨论。伦敦：Equinox。] 受 SFL 启发的对英语时态和方面的解释适用于拉丁语动词系统，根据三个元功能或意义维度来概念化时态和方面：观念的（现实的表现），文本的（文本的表现）和人际的（与观众的互动）。在第四部分，该框架用凯撒、李维和萨卢斯特的文本加以说明，表明“视角”（聚焦）对于叙事的语言分析至关重要。