A Comparative Study of the Meaning of tango in Latin, toucher in French, and touch in English

This paper, which is based on the analysis of the Holy Bible, examines the ways in which the Latin perfect and imperfect of tango are rendered in Modern French and Modern English from an aspectual point of view. The results are as follows : in the case of the agent as its subjects, that is , its subject being an animate nourn, there are 30 past-tense forms of tango, all of which are perfect forms. In this case, the passe simple of toucher (transitive) in French and the past of touch in English respectively correspond to the perfect of tango in Latin. Therefore, it shows an action or an event ; in the case of its subject being inanimate matter, there are 9 past-tense forms of tango, (1) four of which are imperfect forms,and (2) the others are perfect forms. Cobcerning (2), it is the imparfait of toucher a (intransitive) in French that corresponds to the imperfect of tango in Latin. Therefore it shows a state of contact. The past of touch also shows a state of contact without any action in this case. Therefore, it can be said that the level of transitivity is low. Concerning (2), it is the passe compose of toucher(transitive) that corresponds to the perfect of tango in Latin. According to the definitions of toucher in Petit Robert 1, it shows an action `avec mouvement' on that occasion, Therefore, it can be said that it shows an action. Like this, it is the present perfects of touch in English that corresponds to the perfect of tango in Latin. Judging from this, it can be said that the level of transitivity is high.