Article published In:
Journal of Historical PragmaticsVol. 7:1 (2006) ► pp.1–37
The polysemy of mal in European Portuguese
A diachronic analysis
In this paper I provide a diachronic analysis of the lexeme mal, and I argue that the synchronic polysemy found in contemporary European Portuguese corresponds to different stages of the semantic change of the lexeme. Principles of diachronic pragmatics and semantic change are employed to detail the development of the different meanings. Two paths are analyzed: one, leading from the negative evaluation value as a manner adverb to the more recently semanticized meaning of temporality, specifically temporal proximity of one event to another, and a second one, leading from the manner adverbial meaning to a negation adverb, which is restricted to particular constructions.
Keywords: semantic change, adverb, modality, European Portuguese
Cited by (2)
Cited by two other publications
Escalona Torres, Juan M.
2020. Chapter 6. Degree, time and focus. In Current Theoretical and Applied Perspectives on Hispanic and Lusophone Linguistics [Issues in Hispanic and Lusophone Linguistics, 27], ► pp. 133 ff. 
Eckardt, Regine
2011. Semantic Reanalysis and Language Change. Language and Linguistics Compass 5:1 ► pp. 33 ff.
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