Future time reference and the means of its explication in the German language

The article focuses on the analysis of verbal means of expression of future time reference in the German language. The future time typology is revealed on the basis of the empiric analysis of these means. The data were collected from the texts of journalistic and fictional discourse. The main methods applied are the methods of quantitative, contextual and compo-nential analysis. In the introduction, the future time reference in the German language and its ontological and epistemological features are discussed as well as its influence on the appearance and evolution of the grammatical future forms, which differ from the present and past forms in their modal features. On the one hand, the grammar forms with future meaning - Futur I and Futur II - are excluded by some researchers from the temporal system for having non-temporal semantics. On the other hand, in the new Internet forms, built on the Futur pattern - forms of double Futur with the post-future meaning - can be found. This indicates that grammar forms with future meaning should be considered an integral part of the German temporal system. And if in the course of time the forms of double Futur (wird machen werden) were included in the temporal system, there would be an ideal triad of pre-future - future - post-future forms. Future can also be expressed in the German language by Prasens and Perfekt, by several conjunctive forms - Konditionalis, Praterit, Plusquamperfekt and in some cases by Prasens Konjunktiv. The imperative forms always correlate with future. Some lexical-grammatical structures have a future meaning, for example, constructions with modal verbs. A significant linguistic means repertoire, which participates in the actualization of the future semantics, shows the importance of this time for the individual. But the heterogeneity of these means indicates the semantic heterogeneity of the future time reference itself. The majority of non-temporal meanings, which correlate with future, have a modal character. Modality of future forms has two main varieties - volitive and epistemic. In the basis of volitive future lies the seme “desire”. This seme is represented in the following meanings: a) order, b) intention to do something; c) desire or wish that something happens. Volitive future can be expressed by the major part of linguistic means, which correlate with the field of future. The epistemic future indicates the subjective assessment of the probability of a future event and characterizes the completeness of knowledge of the speaker about this event. If the speaker does not rely on any source of information while assessing the future event, the future is considered to be epistemic. The presence of a source of information makes it more certain that the event will take place. Such future combines epistemic and evidential meanings. If the happening of a future event is inevitable, and the presence of a trustworthy and objective information source confirms it, the future is evidential. Epistemic and evidential future forms have some restrictions in using linguistic means.

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