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Adverbial elatives in Caribbean Spanish

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Abstract

This paper is a study of the adverbial modifier bien and its use as an elative or operator of extreme degree in a Caribbean Spanish variety, Puerto Rican Spanish. It is argued that there are several properties setting the elative interpretation of bien apart from other well-known uses in other varieties and from the intensifier muy. The modifier bien is also argued to be exclamative and modal in nature, related to the high degree of commitment of the speaker with the truth of a proposition.

Abstract

This paper is a study of the adverbial modifier bien and its use as an elative or operator of extreme degree in a Caribbean Spanish variety, Puerto Rican Spanish. It is argued that there are several properties setting the elative interpretation of bien apart from other well-known uses in other varieties and from the intensifier muy. The modifier bien is also argued to be exclamative and modal in nature, related to the high degree of commitment of the speaker with the truth of a proposition.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Section 1. (Morpho)phonology-Syntax Interface
  6. Syntacticizing blends 27
  7. Does the verb raise to T in Spanish? 47
  8. Locative DPs and deictic adverbs/pronouns in subject position in Brazilian Portuguese 63
  9. A note on the syntax of possession in Paraguayan Guaraní 85
  10. Section 2. Syntax-Semantics interface
  11. Adverbial elatives in Caribbean Spanish 107
  12. On weak definites and their contribution to event kinds 129
  13. The grammaticalization of ‘big’ situations 151
  14. On the scalar properties and telicity of degree achievements 173
  15. Section 3. Syntax-Discourse interface
  16. Multiple Wh-Movement in European Spanish 195
  17. Subextraction at the Discourse-Grammar interface 223
  18. On the de se reading in the de se center shift in Korean 255
  19. Section 4. Lexicon-Syntax interface
  20. Spanish participial adjectives and individual-level/stage-level interpretations in nominals 279
  21. Two types of transitive verbs in Spanish 305
  22. Grammatical categories at the Lexicon-Syntax-Semantics interface 325
  23. State and change of state in Latin 343
  24. Index 367
Boundaries, Phases and Interfaces
This chapter is in the book Boundaries, Phases and Interfaces
https://doi.org/10.1075/la.239.06gut

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Section 1. (Morpho)phonology-Syntax Interface
  6. Syntacticizing blends 27
  7. Does the verb raise to T in Spanish? 47
  8. Locative DPs and deictic adverbs/pronouns in subject position in Brazilian Portuguese 63
  9. A note on the syntax of possession in Paraguayan Guaraní 85
  10. Section 2. Syntax-Semantics interface
  11. Adverbial elatives in Caribbean Spanish 107
  12. On weak definites and their contribution to event kinds 129
  13. The grammaticalization of ‘big’ situations 151
  14. On the scalar properties and telicity of degree achievements 173
  15. Section 3. Syntax-Discourse interface
  16. Multiple Wh-Movement in European Spanish 195
  17. Subextraction at the Discourse-Grammar interface 223
  18. On the de se reading in the de se center shift in Korean 255
  19. Section 4. Lexicon-Syntax interface
  20. Spanish participial adjectives and individual-level/stage-level interpretations in nominals 279
  21. Two types of transitive verbs in Spanish 305
  22. Grammatical categories at the Lexicon-Syntax-Semantics interface 325
  23. State and change of state in Latin 343
  24. Index 367
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