historical present
noun1
Grammar, Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences The present tense as used when referring to real past events, to add immediacy to what is being said or written.
2
Grammar, Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences The present tense as used when writing a fictional narrative.
- In most dialects, the historical present is used quite freely to convey the sense of more vivid narrative, to retell dreams, plots, tell jokes, etc.1972, William Labov, Language in the Inner City: Studies in the Black English, page 47:
- Cross-linguistically, the historical present tends to be used to increase vividness by substituting the perspective of the ongoing speech situation for that of the narrative.2001, Daniel E. Collins, Reanimated Voices: Speech reporting in a historical-pragmatic perspective, page 91:
1 more example
- Mr. Rothstein comes in," Scher said, "it must have been about none o'clock. Every night he comes in here [Scher, like so many Broadway habitués, spoke most often in the historical present, rather than the past, tense. Damon Runyon faithfully reproduced this patois.] Regular as clockwork he comes in here.2016, Leo Katcher, The Big Bankroll: The Life And Times Of Arnold Rothstein:
- Related terms
- literary present