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Part of
Constructions in Spanish
Edited by Inga Hennecke and Evelyn Wiesinger
[Constructional Approaches to Language 34] 2023
► pp. 103–128

Chapter 5
From idioms to semi-schematic constructions and vice versa

The case of [a un paso de X]

| University of Santiago de Compostela

Taking as a starting point the spatial construction [SUB Vestar a un X{unit_of_measurement} de-PP{PLACE_A}]: ‘the distance to PLACE A is exactly X{unit_of_measurement}’ and its metaphorical extensions within the so-called family of proximity constructions, the present corpus-based study aims to demonstrate the continuum between partially lexically fixed and fully lexically specified constructions (idioms) by highlighting the interaction between units of both kinds on the basis of horizontal and vertical links. Another important aim of this research is to explain the relationship between the spatial, temporal, modal-conditional and epistemic modality meanings observed in the proximity constructions. In contrast to the traditional phraseological theory, Construction Grammar represents an ideal framework for explaining the creative potential of idioms and for describing the different degrees of schematicity and entrenchment of constructions along the lexicon-grammar continuum.

Keywords: family of constructions, constructional idiom, substantive construction, Construction Grammar, phraseology, lexicon-grammar continuum
Article outline
  • 1.Object of study
  • 2.Corpus data extraction
  • 3.The family of proximity constructions
    • 3.1Spatial meaning
    • 3.2Temporal meaning
    • 3.3Modal-conditional meaning
      • 3.3.1The emergent micro-construction estar a un clic(k) ‘to be one click away’
      • 3.3.2Emergence of new semi-schematic constructions on the basis of micro-constructions
    • 3.4The epistemic modality construction and the micro-construction estar a un paso ‘to be one step away’ (‘to be about to’)
  • 4.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
  • Consulted corpora
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
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Consulted corpora

CORDE = Real Academia Española
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esTenTen18 = Sketch Engine
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