Ser, estar and two different modifiers
Assuming a novel model based on a minimal cartography where every syntactic
node in the structure encodes semantic information (see Romeu, 2014), in
this paper I argue that the difference between ser and estar in Spanish is due to
the presence of two different modifiers (Conjoint and Disjoint) of the node Stat
(which introduces a state) in their respective underlying structures, similarly to the
way that the prepositions a and en are distinguished in Romeu (2014). Although
both ser and estar lexicalize Stat, ser can also lexicalize Conjoint, which gives the
interpretation that there is only one state in the situation described, and estar
also lexicalizes Disjoint, which gives the interpretation that the state encoded by
Stat is linked to a different state and that there exists a link or relation between
these two states. This contrast accounts for the different properties of ser and
estar that have been pointed out in the literature: individual-level/stage-level
opposition, permanent/temporary interpretation, scalar interpretation of estar,
evidential use of estar, etc.
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