If you have ever had a text translated into Polish, translated it yourself or have had anything else to do with Slavic languages, you may have come across a linguistic phenomenon that we are unfamiliar with in English – aspect. In Polish and other Slavic languages, a verb not only states what happens, but also whether the action is already completed or is still ongoing.
This difference is crucial when it comes to translating – because it can determine whether a sentence achieves the intended effect or is misleading.
Imperfective aspect – when the action is ongoing
The “imperfective aspect” describes an action that is either happening right now, is regularly repeated or is of general, unlimited nature. It doesn’t matter if the action is already completed, the focus is on the process, duration or repetition. This is often a challenge because this nuance is primarily expressed in other languages by tenses or additional adverbs such as “regularly”, “right now”, “usually” or similar.
Example in Polish:
- czytać (to read – imperfective aspect)
- Czytałem książkę. (I read/have read a book. /I was reading a book. – The action was in progress or repeated; it is not mentioned whether you are already finished or the end of the book was actually reached. It could also mean “I only started reading but didn’t finish the book”.)
- Codziennie czytam gazety. (I read newspapers every day. – This is a habit; something that happens repeatedly, irrespective of whether the action is fully completed each time.)
The imperfective aspect may also express unfinished or failed actions, where the focus is on the attempt.
Perfective aspect – when the action is completed
In contrast, the perfective aspect signals that an action was completed and a result has been reached. In this case, the focus is on the completion of an action and an objective or a state being achieved. It’s a one-off, completed action that has reached an end.
Example in Polish:
- przeczytać (to read through – perfective aspect)
- Przeczytałem książkę. (I have read through/finished reading the book. – The action has been finished, the end of the book has been reached and there is an outcome.)
In narratives, this means that it’s clear which events have already finished and the story moves forwards. In instructions, reports and legal texts, this aspect can change the tone, focus and even the overall message.
One verb – two faces: Paired aspects
Almost every verb in Polish and other Slavic languages leads a kind of “double life” because it exists in imperfective and perfective forms that each express a certain course of action.
Paired aspects are not formed according to a fixed rule; they are instead based on different morphological units. This often requires people to learn pairs, rather than relying on rigid rules. For each verb in Slavic languages, such as Polish, you need to learn not just one, but two pieces of vocabulary.
Common methods for forming paired aspects include:
- Prefixation: Adding a prefix to the imperfective stem to express the perfectivity. This is one of the most common methods, e.g. robić (to do – imperfective) → zrobić (to finish/complete – perfective)
- Robiłem obiad. (I was cooking lunch. – The action was ongoing; I was in the process of preparing the food.)
- Zrobiłem obiad. (I have prepared/cooked lunch. – The action is finished, lunch is ready and can be served.)
- Suffixation: Adding a suffix or modifying the stem. This can often bring subtler nuances to the meaning.
Example: zamykać (to close, imperfective) → zamknąć (to close, perfective)
- Changes to the stem: Changing the vowels or consonants in the stem, often accompanied by a prefix.
Example: brać (to take, imperfective) → wziąć (to take, perfective)
-> Complete change to the stem: bra- → wzi-
- Suppletive forms: In some cases, there are completely different stems for the imperfective and perfective form.
Example: iść (to go, perfective) → chodzić (to go, imperfective)
-> Different stems: iść vs. chodzić
Why aspect is crucial for translations
If you’re translating into Polish, you need to know more than just the right word. You need to understand the perspective of the action – is it currently ongoing, is it completed or is it repeated?
This linguistic phenomenon enables the author of a text to emphasise exactly the part of the action that is to be communicated – whether it be the process itself or the result achieved. This means that Slavic languages are often very precise in what they can express. However, they require non-native speakers to rethink their perception of actions and time when translating and interpreting.
What this means for you
When working with Slavic languages – whether it be for international locations, customers or target markets – aspect is a good example of how complex language is. It also demonstrates how machine translation is often not enough to capture the right tone.
Good translation is not only translating “word for word” but also conveying the right focus, considering the course of action and adopting a change in perspective.
Conclusion
Aspect in Polish (and other Slavic languages) is much more than just grammar – it’s a key way of creating meaning. Without correctly applying the aspect, sentences may be misleading or even falsely interpreted.
As a translation agency, it therefore goes without saying that we need to not only be familiar with these linguistic subtleties, but also to actively incorporate them into our work – so that your texts are understood as they are intended in the target country.
Would you like to know whether your Polish communication is finding the right tone?
We’re happy to assist you.
