How do different languages express the concept of time?

How do different languages express the concept of time?

Languages can express time in various ways. For example, English uses tenses like past, present, and future, while Mandarin often relies on context and time markers.

Can you give examples of how specific languages handle future tense?

Sure! In Spanish, the future tense is often formed with the verb endings -é, -ás, -á, etc. In contrast, in Chinese, future actions are usually indicated by adding the word '会' (huì) before the verb.

What about languages that don't have a future tense?

Great question! Some languages, like Indonesian, do not have a grammatical future tense. Instead, they use context or time indicators to convey future actions.

How does this affect speakers' perception of time?

Research suggests that speakers of languages without a future tense may perceive time differently, often viewing the future as less distinct from the present.