8.1. Earthling basic cognitive variable

We have already thought about all our variables for grammatical time, {ON}, {IN}, {TO}, and {AT}, that is, Aspects Simple, Progressive, Perfect, and Perfect Progressive.
As in our ■MIND PRACTICE, let us consider if there could be a basic variable. We may begin with the most complex of our language patterns, the Perfect Progressive.

PRESENT
He HAS been
reading.

PAST
He HAD been
reading.

FUTURE
He WILL HAVE been reading.

We may now compare the beginning of our language journey, the fields and the river of time (■Chapter 3). It is the verb to have to change for the PRESENT, PAST, or FUTURE, in the Perfect Progressive. It changes the same in the fields, for the cognitive variable {ON}, by the label, our Simple Aspect.

PRESENT
He HAS a book.

PAST
He HAD a book.

FUTURE
He WILL HAVE a book.

We know that auxiliary HAVE works for the language framework and we mark it green. As a content verb, HAVE may tell about ownership. We mark it mauve then, as all content verbs.

As a content word, the verb to have may tell about eating. Madame Règle likes the extra Larousse dishes by Monsieur Sauf. Let us compare the variable {IN}, by the label, the Progressive Aspect.

We use the word “label”, because these names do not decide the reality of language in the mind. The Progressive could be “Continuous”, we have noted about the many grammar books in this world. We could have another name for every grammatical Aspect and more.

PRESENT
Madame Règle IS having her extra Larousse and reading a book now.
PAST
When Jill walked into the restaurant, Madame Règle WAS having her extra Larousse and reading a book.
FUTURE
Next week at this hour, Madame Règle WILL BE having her extra Larousse and reading a book.

In the Progressive pattern, it is the verb to be to change for grammatical time; it changes the same for the variable {ON} in the fields.

PRESENT
He IS
reading.

PAST
He WAS
reading.

FUTURE
He WILL BE
reading.

She IS at the
restaurant.

She WAS at the
restaurant.

She WILL BE at the restaurant.

For all Aspects and tenses, this is always the first element in the verb pattern to change for grammatical time; it does it the same as for the variable {ON}, as if to touch the cognitive ground. We have the first element in big letters here.

Simple

Progressive

Perfect

Perfect Progressive

{on}

{in}

{to}

{at}

WRITE (head verb)

BE writing

HAVE written

HAVE been writing

We can view the value {ON} as the basis for other Aspects, as well as means for syntactic expansion. It can be our earthling basic cognitive variable.

After all, people have evolved grammars {ON} a planet, and human life is likely to continue on a planet or even planets — for unforeseeable future (!)

All the mapping values, {ON, IN, TO} and {AT}, can be our learned cognitive variables: qualities do not have to be inborn to be natural, and there hardly could be inborn cognitive variables, because infants are not much cognitive. We people become cognitive as we live and learn. On the other hand, living without such variables would be intolerably impeded.

Finding a basic value does not imply any order in which to use our learned variables. This is how we could picture our syntactic expansion for the grammatical PRESENT, in a visual transformation from a renowned painter. We do not have to be absolutely artists, and have pleasure.

Transform for variables ON, IN, TO, and AT, in progress.

The value {AT} would be the most divergent from the regular, basic {ON}. Let us turn to American English as it really is. Could we feel like recurring to the basic variable, after an “escapade”?
{AT} I’ve been loving it. But {ON} I want to keep doing different things. — People magazine as in ■CORPUS OF CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN ENGLISH, COCA.

In natural language, a Progressive highlight is not anything unusual:
This is a dream come true. And I’m loving every minute of it. — NBC Today, COCA.

Spring Flowing Colors

For the sake of language competence, let us also consider attempts to present language as options or programs. Are grammatical Aspects or human cognitive variables the same as options?

Proponents of program approaches to language indicate that language has features, and those show regularities in distribution, as in the table here. An Aspect to be both Perfect and Progressive is the Perfect Progressive. An Aspect to be neither Perfect nor Progressive would be the Simple.

– Perfect	+ Perfect	– Progressive	+ Progressive
■		■
■			■
	■	■
	■		■

However, Perfect or Progressive features are not exclusive of the Simple for grammatical time: we have noted, the Simple can be our basic variable. Word sense does not support option or program views to language, either. To say,
I‘m loving you, does not bring meanings as I love you, I don’t love you, or I hate you. Those meanings might come with their language forms only.

We can conclude that Aspects are not options, and they are not programs. Our variables anyway do not have any purpose other than Aspect management. The variable {ON} does not correspond with an option as off.

Finally, we people always have lived in habitats: if we think what there is {ON} a geographical map, we allow for places {IN} areas, routes {TO} places, as well as locations {AT} places or routes.
To put together thought and language in own mind — for intellect, feeling, and earthly or generally living — is natural. It could not break any reasonable rules. What would feelings, thoughts, or works be, without room? {ON} board a ship or another spatial extent, human postural control will favor to keep with the Simple variable as well. We may compare ■6.1, our linguistic gravitation, for human reasons to have a language standard.

Aspect variables can be our earthling proper egoism: everyone has the right to work grammar for own mind. A logical set (compare ■5.1.) has much more to offer than prescriptive rules, for personal study as well as real-time conversations.
Feel welcome to try the grammar grapevine and ■8.2. PRACTICE FOR ALL ASPECTS.

Grapevine: Heebeecheeche and other capers

I don’t know about anyone to have visited everywhere in person, so I thought there could be folks into our game. ■More

by Teresa Pelka January 23, 2021March 27, 2024

Optional practice

Let us think about a visual transformation as above, for the story here.

Cantrella Règle speaks {ON} excellent American. Her friendship with Jill Smith started {ON} over a website forum to discuss philosophy and language.
They agreed {ON} that Latin had had {TO} influence over English and French thinkers, though their languages had {ON} labels of diverse linguistic groups, Germanic and Romance.
Both Jill and Cantrella happened to hear or read {ON} sometimes that American was {ON} an international language, but there were {ON} no international languages really. Esperanto did not have {ON} many features of a natural language.
They could say (see ■CHAPTER 9) that American English is {ON} a lingua franca, that is {ON}, a tongue spoken worldwide. The phrase means {ON} free speech. In Latin, the adjective “francus” also told {ON} someone free, exempt from service, someone at liberty.

Ms. Règle comes {ON} to Mr. Sauf’s restaurant for lunch at times. Today, she has {ON} a small book of poetry with her. Cantrella has finished {TO} a book about Descartes. At home, she has {ON} a big volume about influences between French and English thinkers. She has been reading {AT} two book series, poetry or philosophical commentary, all this week.
Latimer Sauf is {ON} surprised at her reading habit. The special edition of Larousse Gastronomique he got {ON} from her last year has {ON} an elevated and celebrated place in his restaurant main hall.
His guests have turned {TO} many of the pages so far. He has had {TO} another copy to read at home. He has been studying {AT} it to detail. He has {ON} extra Larousse dishes on his menu.

■This text is also available in Polish.

Book format in preparation.

In the first part of the language journey, feel welcome to consider a picture for
■ the grammatical Past, Present, and Future;
■ the Simple, Progressive, and Perfect;
■ infinitive, auxiliary, and head verb forms;
■ the Affirmative, Interrogative, Negative, and Negative Interrogative;
■ irregular verbs and vowel patterns: high and low, back and front.
Third edition, 2024.

The world may never have seen her original handwriting, if her skill was taken for supernatural. Feel welcome to Poems by Emily Dickinson prepared for print by Teresa Pelka: thematic stanzas, notes on the Greek and Latin inspiration, the correlative with Webster 1828, and the Aristotelian motif, Things perpetual — these are not in time, but in eternity.
■Free access, Internet Archive
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