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This article describes, from the viewpoint of Systemic-Functional Linguistics (henceforth, SFL), the specific ways in which the structure of the Spanish clause is organized for the realization of basic experiential functions, including Participant, Process and Circumstance. Thus far, SFL-descriptive work on Spanish has given little attention to the ways in which units and classes of units are organized along the rank scale of this language and how this organization contributes to the structural configuration of types of process. Based on the principles derived from the SFL theoretical dimensions of axis and rank, this article accounts for Spanishspecific resources at stake, first, in the realization of nuclear clause functions such as Process and Participant, and then in the realization of peripheral circumstantial elements. The paper finally addresses the key implications of the approach adopted to the account of the Spanish clause as well as to the general criteria involved in the identification of basic functions in its experiential structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the main results of the allophonic variation of the consonantal group /tr/ in a variety of Chilean Spanish -that of speakers that have not completed secondary education- obtained from eight cities (Iquique, La Serena, Valparaíso, Santiago, Concepción, Temuco, Coyhaique and Punta Arenas), using two elicitation tasks -semi-spontaneous interview and reading-aloud- completed by male and female speakers. The results showed that the sequence of plosive followed by a tap, that is /tr/, was more frequent. In addition, the independent variables geographic origin, elicitation task and gender were shown to have a statistically significant effect on the phonetic realizations of /tr/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the diatopic variation of the periphrasis andar + ger, comparing its use in Mexican and Peninsular Spanish. To this end, the relative frequency of the construction is analyzed in several corpora, as well as its most distinctive semantic and syntactic features. Our quantitative analysis shows, on the one hand, the high frequency of andar + ger in Mexican Spanish as compared to Peninsular Spanish. On the other hand, it reveals that the periphrasis occurs, above all, in informal language modalities. Semantically, the present study corroborates that, in periphrases with a gerund, the verb andar ('to walk'), has progressively lost its lexical meaning of physical movement and has come to transmit pragmatic values, particularly of determination and insistence. In addition, unlike Peninsular Spanish, in Mexican Spanish the periphrasis is less subject to selectional restrictions with respect to the gerund, a relatively recent change that points to a strong grammaticalization. Syntactically, the grammaticalization process is reflected in the adjacency of the auxiliary and the gerund, the fixed internal order of the two components of the periphrasis, clitic climbing and a drop in the frequency of coordinated gerunds. The case of andar + ger demonstrates that grammaticalization of the same construction can take place in different ways depending on the specific dialectal environment. Likewise, and at a more general level, it stresses the importance of a diatopic approach in studies on verbal periphrases and grammaticalization processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a diachronic study of the inchoative periphrases comenzar a and empezar a + infinitive drawing upon grammaticalization theory, in an attempt to contribute to the history of Spanish and, particularly, to the studies focused on verbal periphrases. Based on the results of an analysis of a large number of documented occurrences between the 11th and 21st centuries, we propose that the lexical meaning of words to be relevant in the construction of grammatical pieces; therefore synonymy seems to play an important role in shaping the grammar of a language. As we will see, alternation of the studied forms shows that both coexist nowadays, and that their use is conditioned both by contextual and chronological factors, because both express the same semantic values. Since the use of empezar a + infinitive increases around the 19th century, we reflect on other change processes linked to verbal periphrases during this period, and on their importance in the syntactic periodization of Spanish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the description of the verb soleo, the Latin cognate of the Spanish auxiliary soler, with the aim of contributing to the explanation of the Spanish lexical periphrasis soler + INF, when considering it from a diachronic perspective. Soleo is an especial verb whose singularity is manifested in its etymology and its grammatical particularities. Concerning its etymology, two hypotheses have been considered which start from two different Aktionsart stems: one makes it derive from a Proto-Indo-European iterative stem, the other from a stative one. From this second etymological hypothesis, soleo could be included among Latin denominative stative *e-presents with the basic meaning of 'to be of oneself, to have as one's own, to be normal, to be custom'. Regarding its morphosyntactic features, the semi-deponent soleo has a morphologically passive perfect stem, solitus sum, whose use with aoristic value comes into contradiction with the morphological restriction of the Spanish auxiliary soler and with the aspectual categorization of habitual auxiliary attributed to it. Together with the function as an auxiliary verb constituting a periphrasis with an infinitive, it also presents a use as a full lexical verb in which the prototypical semantic value of its etymology emerges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a broad overview, seen from the perspective of Diachronic Construction Grammar, of the readings and values developed in Latin by the construction so/eo+iNF. The evidence provided and the analysis of the various factors involved in the interpretation of this periphrasis show that its original and basic value is not the expression of habitual aspect, as traditional models maintain, but a typifying meaning that should be considered in the framework of the continuous aspect. On the other hand, the structural possibilities and the behavior of so/eo+iNF in Latin allow to set an interesting reference framework to explain some particular uses of so/er+ INF in the earliest stages of the Spanish language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first results on the PRECAVES XXI project on linguistic attitudes in Medellín, Colombia. In this phase of the project the interview was carried out with two groups of undergraduate students from the first and last semesters of University of Antioquia's Hispanic Philology and Teaching of Spanish Programs. The results are focused on three main topics: the most prestigious variety, the perception of their own variety, and the identification and valuation of other Spanish varieties. This analysis concluded that, for this population from Antioquia, the Colombian way of speaking is the most prestigious, and specifically, the diatopic variety; they value and recognize their own speech from cognitive aspects, considering it as urban and clear, which shows a positive attitude, linguistic pride and sense of belonging towards their variety, as a result of local identity. Finally, the survival of a normative linguistic tradition and a limited general knowledge of Hispanic diversity were evinced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the studies and widespread international appraisal of Andrés Bello's writings, his crucial importance in the history of Spanish Grammar is not only highlighted, but also does this paper manifest his remarkable role as precursor of the major currents of linguistic studies of the 20th century: the European and the American structuralisms, the generative grammar and the pragmatics. By referring to Bello's traditional studies his significance in Modern Philology is clearly shown, and some unique and surprising findings on Bello's idea on the translation of libretti (i.e. the actual vocal parts of opera) are presented by the author of this paper. Bello's characterization and assessment of the difficulties that arise from the symbiosis of text and music in these texts are pronounced about 80 years ahead of Gustav Becher's famous holistic theory on the translation of this type of texts. A theory which, according to distinguished European musicologists, has lead the way in the discussion of the functionality of these distinct interlingual transfers throughout the 20th century, as well as a revaluation of this specific activity during the preceding centuries (15th - 19th century). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concessive clauses (Aunque llueva, saldré a correr - I'll go for a run even if it rains) establish a more flexible connection between clause and main sentence than the other types of adverbial subordinate clauses. This is why the connection between both structures can be stated by coordination (Llueve, pero igualmente saldré a correr - It's raining but I'll still go for a run). From a formal point of view, there are two kinds of adverbial clauses of concession: those beginning with a subordinating conjunction (aunque -even though-, aun -even-, aun cuando -even when-, etc.), and those that do not take such a conjunction. Syntactically, concessive clauses act as modifiers of the nucleus of the sentence or as modifiers of modality. In the present paper we will analyse the use of clauses of concession as modifiers of the nucleus of the sentence introduced by the subordinate conjuctions aunque, aun, aun cuando in connection with the types of phrases that these connectives accept or reject. We will start from the premise that these subordinating conjunctions reject noun phrases. But, even when they can take adjective phrases, the connective aun does not always accept these, and requires a gerund construction or a prepositional phrase acting as an adjective. Aun cuando, on the other hand, can only be used with a conjugated verb. This difference poses the problem of whether the conjuction aunque can be reconsidered as an adverb, which, in turn, in the area of language teaching, affects the choice and limitations of types of words in Spanish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we analyse the incidence of English as an L2 in the acquisition of Italian as an L3. To this effect we have chosen a linguistic element that presents an interesting challenge in the research of language acquisition: the subject. Taking into account Luigi Rizzi's hypothesis that parameters are binary in general (A parametric approach to comparative syntax: properties of the pronominal system (1997)), we consider that languages are divided into pro-drop and non pro-drop. We have compared the production of subjects in students whose native language (Spanish) is pro-drop, their second language (English) is non pro-drop and are at present learning Italian (pro-drop) as their L3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]