Abstract

PAIVA, Maria da Conceição de  and  BRAGA, Maria Luiza. Grammaticalization and functional specialization: the case of the connector pois. Diacrítica [online]. 2013, vol.27, n.1, pp.195-216. ISSN 0807-8967.

Our aim in this article is to discuss the hypothesis that the grammaticalization of clauses follows the cline [-integrated] > [+integrated], i.e., parataxis > hypotaxis, based on a diachronic study of Portuguese explicative connector pois. We show that, although the clauses introduced by pois can only be postposed in contemporary Portuguese, up to the 18th century, they were allowed to occur before or after their nuclear clauses. The loss of that flexibility, which apparently violates the path assumed by more general principles, is discussed considering the discursive characteristics of the clauses introduced by the connector pois. The analysis of those properties leads us to conclude that the observed changes are the result of a functional specialization of pois. In former stages of the language, this connector could introduce clauses that codify both new and given information. Through the time, however, pois specializes in introducing new information.

Keywords : connector pois; position; grammaticalization.

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