PowerPoint Presentation

Tense Aspect-Modality in DiscourseRichard Loebel Presents

The Bull FrameworkLinguist William Bull proposed a framework to describe tense in Spanish. This framework also has application in English.His framework sets up an axis of orientation in which a speaker may place their self to describe another event.The speaker establishes one axis for them, and describes something in another axis. Example with future axis: Before: He will be finished running before 6. During: He is going to sleep at 7. After: After dinner, he is going to play golf.

Bull Framework Applied to EnglishWhen applied to English, speakers still stay within one axis of orientation, past,present, or future. Future tense has no distinct form, and is still described using will going to along with other indicators.

Helping ESL Students with Tense-aspect use in text.Students who dont understand the importance of axis-orientation may discourse hop. Example: I dont know what to do for my vacation. It will start in three weeks. I saved enough money for a really nice trip. I went to Hawaii. It will be too early to go to the mountains. I worked hard all year. I really need a break.

While this is understandable, we want students to present more cohesive writing through consistent use of axis forms.Example: I dont know what to do with my vacation. It starts in three weeks. I have saved enough money for a really nice trip. I have been to Hawaii. It is too early to go to the mountains. I have worked hard all year. I really need a break.

Helping ESL Students with Tense-aspectWe can provide the students with a visual model to illustrate the Bull framework and 3-axis structure.

Helping ESL Students with Tense-aspectWe can then have students interact with a visual model in which they can see the cohesiveness when language follows Bulls framework.

Another Teaching IdeaHave a student describe what their average school day is like. Then write this on the board, all in the present tense, having each sentence describe one action in their routine.Then, have students choose a sentence in the paragraph to use as their axis point, and guide them on modifying the rest of the paragraph to fit the new axis.

Summation on Tense in DiscourseLearning to properly apply the right tense in discourse can be a tricky concept for ESL students to grasp.Bulls framework provides a good structure for students to understand perspective influences what tense is used in discourse situations.Helping students view and create discourse from an established axis via the framework will help them in their use of proper tense and discourse cohesiveness.

Article for Reference.Larson-Freeman, Diane, Tom Kheun, and Mark Haccius.Helping Students Make Appropriate English Verb Tense-Aspect Choices4th ser. 11 (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 22 May 2015.