The plurality we see in the study of language today is bewildering. This collection makes a contribution to the task of mutual comparison and integration of the methodologically and perspectively varying approaches which are often being pursued without much awareness of what is being done next door. This volume brings together a number of papers which all deal with the temporal dimension of natural languages. Each of these papers has its own story to tell. But at the same time their juxtaposition reveals besides an obvious thematic unity also many similarities in method and perspective.