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The present paper analyzes the mood alternation between Spanish conditional clauses introduced by the particle si ‘if’, on the one hand, and by conditional conjunctions such as a condición de que ‘on the condition that’, con tal de que ‘provided that’ and siempre y cuando ‘as long as’, on the other hand. Situated within the theoretical perspective of Cognitive Grammar, the paper argues that the conceptual content of the linguistic unit that introduces the conditional clause determines mood choice. In particular, it is claimed that the indicative mood in si-clauses reflects the conceptualizer’s reasoning about the causal relation between two events. By contrast, the occurrence of the subjunctive mood in other conditional clauses is analyzed as a natural effect of the condition expressed by the conditional conjunction. The analysis further shows that the mood alternation can be explained by the concept of dominion. The particle si introduces a clause that is located within the conceptualizer’s epistemic dominion, whereas other conditional conjunctions introduce clauses that are located outside the dominion of effective control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the model of Cognitive Grammar, the concept of dominion is fundamental to the analysis of the conceptualizer's attitude toward an event or a proposition. However, the concept has, first and foremost, been understood in epistemic terms, whereas there has been less concern with the conceptualizer's efforts to influence and manipulate the course of events in the world. This being so, the present paper shows that the conceptualizer's dominion of effective control is relevant in a number of linguistic contexts. The analysis provides evidence for this particular feature in factive contexts, deontic contexts, contexts of volition and causation, and in adverbial clauses of purpose, manner and condition. The analysis further shows that the conceptualizer's dominion of effective control is capable of providing a conceptually grounded explanation for the occurrence of the Spanish and the Portuguese subjunctive mood in these grammatical contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional way of explaining the subjunctive mood in Portuguese is utterly related to the distinction made between reality and non-reality. That is, while the indicative mood has been explained in terms of reality, the subjunctive has been the mood of non-reality. Although this explanation covers many occurrences of the subjunctive mood, it is also recognized that it fails to explain the use of the subjunctive mood in factive contexts. This being so, the present study aims at explaining the variation between the indicative and subjunctive mood in factive contexts from a Cognitive Grammar perspective. The hypothesis put forward is that the mood variation can be explained in terms of dominion and control. Thus, it is claimed that the subjunctive mood in factive contexts can be explained by a reduced degree of active control, this being consistent with an event that is located outside the conceptualizer's dominion of effective control. On the other hand, the indicative mood occurs in contexts of epistemic control that are located inside the conceptualizer's epistemic dominion. An additional analysis of the subjunctive mood in other grammatical contexts corroborates the initial claim. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The paper offers a unified account of the meaning of the Spanish subjunctive mood. [•] It covers a greater array of grammatical contexts than offered by previous studies. [•] Focus is on the conceptual relation between the main clause and mood choice. [•] The notion of dominion is a main tool for interpreting the subjunctive mood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subjunctive mood has frequently been explained in terms of unreality, presupposition, non-assertion and the distinction between new and old information. Although these explanations offer a partial account of the semantics of this mood, it is shown that many occurrences of the subjunctive mood remain unexplained. This being so, the present paper aims at explaining the indicative and subjunctive mood in impersonal expressions with the verb ser from a Cognitive Grammar perspective of linguistic analysis. The analysis shows that the variation between the indicative and subjunctive mood in this grammatical context can be explained in terms of dominion and control. An extension of the analysis further shows that it may account for the occurrence of the subjunctive mood in other grammatical contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper examines the variation between finite and infinitive complements of the Portuguese perception/causation verbs ver (‘see’), ouvir (‘hear’), sentir (‘feel’), deixar (‘let’) and fazer (‘make’) from a cognitive grammar perspective. It is argued that the distribution of the structures + can be explained by iconicity and subjectification. The hypothesis is put forward that the structure + designates direct physical perception, while the structure + designates an inferential relation between the main verb and the complement event. In addition, the structure + designates direct causation, whereas + designates an indirect causation with inferential features. Further, it is claimed that the inferential and conceptually more complex character found in the structure + represents a prime example of subjectification. Being so, it is argued that Portuguese complementation provides a remarkable connection between iconicity and subjectification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No presente estudo, realiza‐se uma análise qualitativa sobre os complementos finitos e infinitivos dos verbos causativos deixar e fazer no Português Europeu. A partir de uma visão cognitiva da língua, a Gramática Cognitiva de Langacker (1987, 1991), propõe‐se que a diferença entre os complementos em causa é de carácter icónico e que pode ser explicada por uma distinção feita entre causação directa e indirecta, e pelo grau de controlo sobre o evento descrito no complemento. Assim, argumenta‐se que os complementos infinitivos assinalam uma causação directa, enquanto os finitos implicam uma causação indirecta. Em consequência disso, os complementos infinitivos dão a entender um maior grau de controlo sobre o evento completivo do que os complementos finitos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resumen Traditionally the clitic pronoun se has been given an impersonal interpretation with intransitive verbs and a passive one with transitive verbs. The present article, adhering to the paradigm of cognitive grammar, challenges the traditional approach based on purely formal criteria. Instead, it is argued that the semantic vagueness of se may lead to different interpretations depending on the grammatical context in which it occurs. In order to study the function and meaning of this pronoun in infinitival adverbial clauses, as well as the ways in which it is conceptualized as a generic trajector (i.e. an unspecified active subject), a wide array of grammatical contexts is analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]