Language and Literature 2007 16(3)

Chapters 3 to 5 trace the development of psychological insight in Hindi literature, showing that, since the beginning of the 20th century up to more recent times, there has been a decrease in narratorial mediation between the reader and the mind of the protagonist. Damsteegt presents a significant contribution to the field of Hindi grammar in Chapter 6. It surveys the various forms and functions of the present tense in Hindi grammar, particularly noting the distinction between the roles of the general present and the continuous present. In addition to indicating iterative actions, he notes that the general present can be used to show the perfective aspect within the present tense. This he explains as describing activities so brief that the action and its conclusion are almost simultaneous, in contrast to verbs in the continuous present, which present actions in progress over a certain period of time. He points out that the very nature of the verb itself can in part determine which form of the present tense is likely to be used. Damsteegt then carefully analyses the implications these two forms of the present tense can have in reference to emotionality in a narrative context, particularly noting cases where the form of the present tense used for a given verb is opposite from what one would expect according to the natur