On the Doppelperfekt in German dialects

Abstract

This paper examines the periphrastic tense formation known as Doppelperfekt (DPF), used in various non-standard German dialects. The DPF, also referred to as doppelte Perfektformen, gesteigertes Perfekt, Perfekt II, and Ultraperfekt, involves adding an additional Partizip II of the auxiliary verb to a Perfekt construction. Examples include "Ich habe dem Kunden den Brief geschickt gehabt!" and "Er ist mit dem Zug angekommen gewesen." Historically marginalized in grammar books, the DPF's usage has often been overlooked. This study emphasizes the importance of non-standard tenses like the DPF for understanding language history and usage evolution. It explores the DPF's attributes, usage, history, and theorized origins, aiming to position the DPF within the German tense system both historically and in contemporary language.Germanic Studie