Va y dice & Co.: Motion verbs as quotatives
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Anke Grutschus
Abstract
This study is dedicated to Spanish V1-y-V2-constructions, within which motion verbs like ir, llegar and venir (“V1”) are coordinated with communication verbs like decir (“V2”). Although these constructions are not particularly rare and have been observed since the 16th century, they have not yet been studied in more detail. The present corpus-based analysis looks for signs of constructionalization while at the same time determining the added semantic value of the construction and identifying differences between the three motion verbs. The study reveals early signs of constructionalization (e.g. preferential use of present tense and third person). The differences between the motion verbs can mainly be traced back to their lexical meaning, thus opposing source-oriented ir and destination-oriented llegar and venir. The analysis further indicates the existence of two variants of the construction: while the first one emphasizes modal and expressive values, the second variant seems to serve as a topic marker.
Abstract
This study is dedicated to Spanish V1-y-V2-constructions, within which motion verbs like ir, llegar and venir (“V1”) are coordinated with communication verbs like decir (“V2”). Although these constructions are not particularly rare and have been observed since the 16th century, they have not yet been studied in more detail. The present corpus-based analysis looks for signs of constructionalization while at the same time determining the added semantic value of the construction and identifying differences between the three motion verbs. The study reveals early signs of constructionalization (e.g. preferential use of present tense and third person). The differences between the motion verbs can mainly be traced back to their lexical meaning, thus opposing source-oriented ir and destination-oriented llegar and venir. The analysis further indicates the existence of two variants of the construction: while the first one emphasizes modal and expressive values, the second variant seems to serve as a topic marker.
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
