Article published in:
New Perspectives on the Study of Ser and E
star
Edited by Isabel Pérez-Jiménez, Manuel Leonetti and Silvia Gumiel-Molina
[Issues in Hispanic and Lusophone Linguistics 5] 2015
► pp. 173–202
What do Spanish copulas have in common with Tibetan evidentials?
The Spanish copula estar ‘be.stage-level’ has both well-known aspectual restrictions
and evidential uses. Tibetan evidential ‘dug also shows similar aspectual
constraints. Both features are derived from assuming that the relevant property
in both cases is the gradability of the predicate, which establishes a comparison
class within-individuals (yielding estar ‘be.stage-level’) or between-individuals
(yielding ser ‘be.individual-level’). A between-individual comparison class is
anchored by the nature of the comparison, whereas a within-individual comparison
class must be contextually located. This location requirement results in
the possibility of having evidential readings.
Keywords: ‘dug, comparison class, estar, evidentiality, gradability, individual-level, ser, stage-level
Published online: 28 October 2015
https://doi.org/10.1075/ihll.5.07cam
https://doi.org/10.1075/ihll.5.07cam
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