Chapter 6. Insubordinated conditionals in spoken and non-spoken Italian
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Edoardo Lombardi Vallauri
Abstract
In this chapter, Italian free conditionals are located within the general framework of Insubordination (Evans 2007). By means of the data contained in spoken and non-spoken Italian corpora, a series of questions related to the issue are addressed. The question regarding the extent to which the use of such constructions can be considered conventionalized is answered by considering the frequency of the construction as compared to the general frequency of if-clauses; its different diffusion in spoken and written uses and, among them, dialogic vs. non-dialogic situations; intonation patterns, conveying a series of pragmatic functions and characterizing if-clauses without an (overt) main clause as specific speech acts; conventionalization of meaning and function.The hypothesis that in language there may be a permanent tendency to creating insubordinated conditionals is explored in relation to such pressures as phonetical economy, communicative economy/ergonomy exploiting vagueness, the politeness function of “being incomplete”, and the possible preference for the iconic order “cause-consequence”.
Abstract
In this chapter, Italian free conditionals are located within the general framework of Insubordination (Evans 2007). By means of the data contained in spoken and non-spoken Italian corpora, a series of questions related to the issue are addressed. The question regarding the extent to which the use of such constructions can be considered conventionalized is answered by considering the frequency of the construction as compared to the general frequency of if-clauses; its different diffusion in spoken and written uses and, among them, dialogic vs. non-dialogic situations; intonation patterns, conveying a series of pragmatic functions and characterizing if-clauses without an (overt) main clause as specific speech acts; conventionalization of meaning and function.The hypothesis that in language there may be a permanent tendency to creating insubordinated conditionals is explored in relation to such pressures as phonetical economy, communicative economy/ergonomy exploiting vagueness, the politeness function of “being incomplete”, and the possible preference for the iconic order “cause-consequence”.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Map ix
- Author affiliations xi
- Chapter 1. The dynamics of insubordination 1
- Chapter 2. On insubordination and cooptation 39
- Chapter 3. Running in the family 65
- Chapter 4. Independent si -clauses in Spanish 89
- Chapter 5. Revisiting the functional typology of insubordination 113
- Chapter 6. Insubordinated conditionals in spoken and non-spoken Italian 145
- Chapter 7. Insubordination in the Tsezic Languages 171
- Chapter 8. Ordinary insubordination as transient discourse 183
- Chapter 9. Insubordination and the establishment of genealogical relationship across Eurasia 209
- Chapter 10. Insubordination in Japanese diachronically 247
- Chapter 11. Insubordination in Aleut 283
- Chapter 12. Insubordination in Sliammon Salish 309
- Chapter 13. Insubordination in interaction 341
- Chapter 14. How fascinating! Insubordinate exclamations 367
- Chapter 15. Routes to insubordination 393
- Language Index 423
- Author Index 425
- Subject Index 429
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Map ix
- Author affiliations xi
- Chapter 1. The dynamics of insubordination 1
- Chapter 2. On insubordination and cooptation 39
- Chapter 3. Running in the family 65
- Chapter 4. Independent si -clauses in Spanish 89
- Chapter 5. Revisiting the functional typology of insubordination 113
- Chapter 6. Insubordinated conditionals in spoken and non-spoken Italian 145
- Chapter 7. Insubordination in the Tsezic Languages 171
- Chapter 8. Ordinary insubordination as transient discourse 183
- Chapter 9. Insubordination and the establishment of genealogical relationship across Eurasia 209
- Chapter 10. Insubordination in Japanese diachronically 247
- Chapter 11. Insubordination in Aleut 283
- Chapter 12. Insubordination in Sliammon Salish 309
- Chapter 13. Insubordination in interaction 341
- Chapter 14. How fascinating! Insubordinate exclamations 367
- Chapter 15. Routes to insubordination 393
- Language Index 423
- Author Index 425
- Subject Index 429
