Grammatical constructions and viewpoint: Concessives [Embora P, Q] and concessive conditionals [Se P, Q]

Abstract

This work contrasts concessive constructions [Embora P, Q] and concessive conditionals [Se P, Q] in journalistic texts in Brazilian Portuguese. Based on the Non-Synonymy Principle (GOLDBERG, 1995), it is shown that these constructions present pragmatic differences that can be explained through viewpoint alternation in the relevant mental spaces configuration (FAUCONNIER, 1994, 1997; CUTRER, 1994; DANGYGIER & SWEETSER, 2005). The analysis claims that, in concessives [Embora P, Q], viewpoint is located in the base space, which refers to the journalist’s here and now. On the other hand, in concessive conditionals [Se P, Q], viewpoint moves to a reported speech space which refers to the speech of a third party previously reported in discourse. Associated to different strategies in viewpoint marking, these constructions also reflect distinct epistemic stances. Concessives reflect positive epistemic stance and thus the journalist’s commitment with the factuality of the event described in the clause introduced by “embora” (roughly, although), whereas concessive conditionals reflect neutral epistemic stance, indicating that the journalist exhibits neutrality with respect to the factuality of the event reported in the concessive conditional protasis introduced by “se” (roughly, if).