The use of the structure demonstrative pronoun + spatial deixis as semantic emptying of demonstrative pronouns in brazilian portuguese

a pragmatic analysis of political tweets

Abstract

This article analyzes and discusses, based on the assumptions of Functionalist Linguistics and Pragmatics, the structure formed by a demonstrative pronoun followed by a spatial deictic adverb in political tweets, especially the combinations “este aqui”, “este aí”, “esse aqui” and “esse aí”. This work proposes to show that, in addition to the semantic emptying of the grammatical class of demonstrative pronouns, the deictic adverbs "aqui" and "aí" that make up the structure to be studied undergo the process of grammaticalization of the lato sensu type, which, in short, refers to the changes that occur within the grammar, without there necessarily being a change in the grammatical category. In addition to strictly grammatical factors, the object of study requires attention to the pragmatic aspects that engender it. Using the maxims proposed by Grice ([1967]1982), we intend to show, through a qualitative approach, that speakers are explicitly prolix when they locate or delimit the referent of the demonstrative by adding the deictic adverb, since the demonstrative pronoun would have the potential to do this on its own. However, they do this for two sufficiently valid reasons: to maintain the clarity of the utterance and to express subjective positions.