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In:Studies in Historical Ibero-Romance Morpho-Syntax
Edited by Miriam Bouzouita, Ioanna Sitaridou and Enrique Pato
[Issues in Hispanic and Lusophone Linguistics 16] 2018
► pp. 75–98

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Chapter 4
Intersubjectification and textual emphasis in the use of definite article + proper name in Spanish

 | Universidad de Granada
Published online: 17 July 2018
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/ihll.16.04cal
Abstract
This paper analyses the uses given to the structure [definite article + proper name] (e.g., el Juan ‘lit. the Juan’) in the history of Spanish (Calderón Campos, 2015). It employs the notions of “expressive value” of the definite article (Epstein, 1994, 2001) and of “intersubjectification” (Traugott & Dasher, 2002). At present this structure has a restricted colloquial use, with varying degrees of social perception and different pragmatic values depending on the communicative situation. However, in the past it was employed in learned texts with two possible values: (i) a discourse-pragmatic use with an anaphoric, non-judgemental value, equivalent to [‘the already mentioned’ + proper name]; and also a recognitial use, similar to the Latin ille Socrates ‘the well-known Socrates’.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.From the Latin distal demonstrative ille to the definite article
  • 3. Definite article + proper name in present-day Spanish
  • 4.The definite article as a marker of discourse prominence
  • 5.The recognitional use of definite article + proper name
  • 6.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
References (50)
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2018. The dative experiencer of Spanish gustar . In Studies in historical Ibero-Romance morpho-syntax [Issues in Hispanic and Lusophone Linguistics, 16], ► pp. 123 ff. DOI logo

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