In:Beyond Binaries in Address Research: Politeness and identity practices in interaction
Edited by Víctor Fernández-Mallat and María Irene Moyna
[Topics in Address Research 6] 2025
► pp. 45–68
Chapter 3Analyzing sociopragmatic properties of polysemic ustedeo address forms in Chilean Spanish via indexicality
and clustering
Published online: 17 July 2025
https://doi.org/10.1075/tar.6.03fer
https://doi.org/10.1075/tar.6.03fer
Abstract
This chapter examines 3,841 instances of second-person singular usage in Chilean Spanish, drawing on data from
everyday conversations and institutional talk. Using a clustering procedure, the study identifies prototypical sociopragmatic
properties that define the meaning of polysemic ustedeo, which can convey respect, formality, and tenderness.
Results show that, in institutional settings, ustedeo is used by all genders when addressing higher-status
individuals, often in questions, neutral statements, and reproaches, with common collocations being occupational terms and
proper names. Contrastively, in everyday contexts, ustedeo is predominantly used by females addressing
younger individuals, typically in directives and questions, with collocations including endearment terms and proper names.
These findings highlight how address forms acquire unique meanings through interaction, extending beyond their traditional
interpretations.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Key theoretical approaches in address research and their application in Spanish-speaking regions
- 3.Objective and research questions
- 4.Methods
- 5.Results
- 5.1Everyday talk data
- 5.2Institutional talk data
- 6.Discussion and closing remarks
Notes References
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