Concessivas num corpus da Idade Moderna

Abstract

Based on a corpus linguistics analysis, this study proposes a description of the syntactic distribution and semantic functioning of three concessive connectives in a Portuguese epistolary corpus from Early Modern Ages, the P.S. Post Scriptum . These connectives, embora , mesmo que and ainda que , are considered the most frequent conjunctions in Contemporary European Portuguese. Corpus analysis reveals a different diachronic path for each one. In the beginning of the 20 th century, while embora frequency of use grows, it is evident the decrease of ainda que , with consequences in the concessive conjunctions system.