Idiomaticity in grammar
a Construction Grammar approach to “VÊ/VEJA SE S” Brazilian Portuguese constructions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47456/rctl.v18i40.45048Keywords:
Idiomatic constructions, Preemptive Reprimand Construction, Corroboration-seeking ConstructionAbstract
This article aims to describe two idiomatic constructions with "VÊ/VEJA SE S" (illustrated by utterances such as "Vê se me devolve meu livro" and "Veja se meio-dia é hora de acordar") in contemporary Brazilian Portuguese, based on the theoretical framework of Usage-Based Construction Grammar. Methodologically, we employ both quantitative and qualitative-interpretative analyses of data extracted from the Corpus do Português. In summary, the data demonstrate that these idiomatic constructions are specialized in the functions of directing a preventive reprimand to the interlocutor and seeking the interlocutor's corroboration, respectively. More specifically, the first construction expresses a command to perform an action that, from the speaker's perspective, the interlocutor already knew they should perform. The second construction is used to invite the interlocutor to corroborate a position of disagreement regarding a belief attributed to a given Subject of Consciousness. From this analysis, it was also possible to postulate the existence of a more abstract construction that, in terms of form, exhibits the sequence "VÊ/VEJA SE S" and, in terms of meaning, retains the semantics of negative evaluation.
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