GRAMÁTICA Y PRAGMÁTICA EN LA EVOLUCIÓN DE LAS PERÍFRASIS VERBALES. EL CASO DE VENIR + A + INFINITIVO.

The present paper studies the relationship between Pragmatics and Grammar in the processes of linguistic change. Against this backdrop, we describe the evolution of the Spanish verbal construction venir + a + infinitivo as a modal verbal periphrase. The evolution of this verbal construction shows that in many cases grammar results from the linguistic codification of pragmatic meaning. In the case of venir + a + infinitivo, the periphrase codes the speaker's point of view about the sentence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]