Venir + participle in Spanish: Semantic bleaching or meaning elaboration?
-
Katrin Betz
Abstract
In Spanish, the structure venir + adjective/participle can assume different functions: in some cases, venir is used as a full verb and the adjective/participle in question functions as an optional secondary predicate (Maria vino a casa contenta) (cf. Demonte 1999, 2461-2497). In other cases, venir functions as a semi-copula (venir empaquetado) (cf. Demonte 1999, 2514; Leborans 1999, 2360) or pseudo-copula (cf. Marin 1990) and the adjective/participle in question acts as the main predicate. Venir, when used as a semi- or pseudo-copula, can exhibit different degrees of semantic bleaching, and have different basic nuances of meaning. In this paper, the internal structure of the various semantic subclasses of the form venir + adjective/ participle is examined in order to discuss based on this analysis the assumption of constructions in terms of construction grammar.1 The theoretical discussions are complemented by a discussion of specific frequency values.
Abstract
In Spanish, the structure venir + adjective/participle can assume different functions: in some cases, venir is used as a full verb and the adjective/participle in question functions as an optional secondary predicate (Maria vino a casa contenta) (cf. Demonte 1999, 2461-2497). In other cases, venir functions as a semi-copula (venir empaquetado) (cf. Demonte 1999, 2514; Leborans 1999, 2360) or pseudo-copula (cf. Marin 1990) and the adjective/participle in question acts as the main predicate. Venir, when used as a semi- or pseudo-copula, can exhibit different degrees of semantic bleaching, and have different basic nuances of meaning. In this paper, the internal structure of the various semantic subclasses of the form venir + adjective/ participle is examined in order to discuss based on this analysis the assumption of constructions in terms of construction grammar.1 The theoretical discussions are complemented by a discussion of specific frequency values.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Romance motion verbs in language change: New approaches and challenges 1
- Motion verbs in Romanian: Language contact and language renewal 23
- Where can we go with [aller/alé ‘go’ + verb] in hexagonal French, French spoken in Gabon and Guianese French Creole? 47
- A diachronic corpus study on the productivity of the French verb-serializing analytic [motion verb + main verb] pattern 85
- The French aller + infinitive construction in instructive discourses: New insights from video cooking shows 107
- “Andiamo a utilizzare il futuro analitico”: On the use of an unused form 135
- Pragmatic profile of a marginalised verbal periphrasis: Functional insights in the use of the Italian verbal periphrasis andare a + infinito in political discourses 157
- Semantic bleaching as an indicator of degrees of periphrasticity: An experimental approach 179
- The category of throw verbs as productive source of the Spanish inchoative construction 213
- (Anti-)Grammaticalization paths of Spanish venir ‘to come’ + past participle 241
- Venir + participle in Spanish: Semantic bleaching or meaning elaboration? 269
- Va y dice & Co.: Motion verbs as quotatives 287
- Going to surprise: The grammaticalization of itive as mirative 311
- Index 347
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Romance motion verbs in language change: New approaches and challenges 1
- Motion verbs in Romanian: Language contact and language renewal 23
- Where can we go with [aller/alé ‘go’ + verb] in hexagonal French, French spoken in Gabon and Guianese French Creole? 47
- A diachronic corpus study on the productivity of the French verb-serializing analytic [motion verb + main verb] pattern 85
- The French aller + infinitive construction in instructive discourses: New insights from video cooking shows 107
- “Andiamo a utilizzare il futuro analitico”: On the use of an unused form 135
- Pragmatic profile of a marginalised verbal periphrasis: Functional insights in the use of the Italian verbal periphrasis andare a + infinito in political discourses 157
- Semantic bleaching as an indicator of degrees of periphrasticity: An experimental approach 179
- The category of throw verbs as productive source of the Spanish inchoative construction 213
- (Anti-)Grammaticalization paths of Spanish venir ‘to come’ + past participle 241
- Venir + participle in Spanish: Semantic bleaching or meaning elaboration? 269
- Va y dice & Co.: Motion verbs as quotatives 287
- Going to surprise: The grammaticalization of itive as mirative 311
- Index 347
