Comparing verbal aspect in Slavic and Gothic

Much has been written and said about Gothic verbal aspect, especially since the publications of Streitberg (1891 a.f.). Opinions have varied and according to some authors there is no such thing as verbal aspect in Gothic. Others maintain there is and both camps have defended their positions fiercely. Comparisons with Slavic verbal aspect have been made and it is the morphological nature of Gothic and its so-called 'empty prefix' ga- that have prompted authors and researchers to do so. In this paper I take a close look at that morphology and note that it is not in fact so very similar at all if one takes a look at the whole morphological sytem of verbal aspect in Gothic and Slavic. This, then, is a prelude to a short analysis of the treatment of so-called Gothic aspect compared to Slavic, which in turn also reveals considerable differences.