Fonctionnement comparé de l’imparfait de rupture en français et de l’imparfait perfectif non-itératif en bulgare

Abstract

The aim of this article is to compare the mechanisms underlying the use of the narrative imperfect (called also ‘imparfait de rupture’) in French and the use of the non-iterative perfective imperfect in Bulgarian. Making use of the general concepts of the theory of the enunciative operations of tense and aspect, it will be argued that the aspectual value of these two uses of the imperfect share similarities which, nevertheless, are realized in very different syntactic and discursive conditions: inserted into clearly identified contexts, these two forms indicate a new situation (a “new state”) created by the occurrence of an event.