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Article published In:
Constructional Approach(es) to Discourse-Level Phenomena: Theoretical challenges and empirical advances
Edited by Renata Enghels and María Sol Sansiñena
[Constructions and Frames 13:1] 2021
► pp. 82–125

Semantic polyfunctionality and constructional networks

On insubordinate subjunctive complement constructions in Spanish

| University of Antwerp
| University of Antwerp
| University of Antwerp

This paper offers an analysis of insubordinate subjunctive complement clauses (ISCs) in Spanish and aims to contribute to the general debate in Construction Grammar on how to deal with a highly pragmatically specified surface form that expresses several meanings. We explore whether the meanings expressed by ISCs are encoded in the construction or can be derived via independently existing principles of pragmatic interpretation. The results of the analysis are represented in a constructional network.

Keywords: Construction Grammar, insubordination, complement clauses, syntax, interactional linguistics
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Insubordinate subjunctive complement constructions
  • 3.Data and methodology
    • 3.1Semantic categories
      • 3.1.1Strong directives
      • 3.1.2Weak directives
      • 3.1.3Wishes
      • 3.1.4Quoted directives
    • 3.2Grammatical features
    • 3.3Discourse features
    • 3.4Pragmatic features
      • 3.4.1Agentivity
      • 3.4.2Presence of the agent in the conversation
      • 3.4.3Force exertion
  • 4.Results
    • 4.1Frequency distribution
    • 4.2Strong directives
    • 4.3Weak directives
    • 4.4Wishes
    • 4.5Quoted directives
  • 5.The constructional network of ISCs
  • 6.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 2 August 2021
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/cf.00048.fer
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