Tense and Aspect Systems in Tharu and English

Abstract

This thesis is prepared to show the comparison between Tharu and English Tense Aspect System. To carry out the research work the researcher prepared a set of an interview schedule to draw information on tense and aspect system from 60 native speakers of Dang. The sentences in interview schedule were written in English with different verbs forms and these sentences were translated into equivalent Tharu without verb forms. She requested the native speakers to give Tharu equivalent verb with correct tense and aspect system to those sentences. After collecting the data the researcher analyzed and interpreted them. The major findings of the present study indicate that the Tharu language, unlike English, does not have combination of perfect and progressive aspect 'perfect progressive' and Tharu verbs inflect to agree with subject. Tharu verbs are inflected to show present, past and the future. In English future tense is expressed with the help of shall/will before the verb but there is no verb inflection. Unlike English, Tharu verbs inflect to indicate for person and number. The thesis consists of four chapters. Chapter first deals with general background, English language, origin of the Tharus and their language and description of tense aspect system. It also deals with tense aspect as a whole, review of related literature, objectives of study and significance of the study. Second chapter is concerned with the methodology used in the study. It includes sources of data, population of the study, sampling procedure, research tool, process of data collection and limitations of the study. Chapter three deals with analysis and interpretation of data. It includes different tense and aspect system with examples. the final chapter presents the findings and recommendations.