Les périphrases verbales « venir a/llegar a + VINF » et leur rôle en discours : une approche dialogique

Abstract

Abstract Based on the « dialogisme » theory developed by Jacques Bres, this paper focuses on the pragmatic effects produced by the use of Spanish verbal periphrases, particularly by the use of « llegar a + infinitive » versus « venir a + infinitive ». It also takes into consideration the characteristics of each auxiliary within the respective periphrasis. With the ongoing process of grammaticalization leading to periphrases, some spatial semantic elements are retained by the auxiliary and the preposition a, which contribute to the utterance-construction. In fact, the respective auxiliary operates as an indicator of the type of relations between the major utterance (E) and the minor ones (e) convoked by the major utterer E1. The analysis of over a thousand authentic examples taken from two corpora of the database Sketch Engine, as well as the classification of the verbs preferably appearing in the infinitive position allows a more precise description of both periphrases. By restricting the analysis to one « shared » infinitive verb (decir), we focus on different pragmatic effects, showing that « venir a + decir » and « llegar a + decir » involve a different type of argumentation. By choosing llegar, E1 indicates that it rejects the minor utterer e1 without providing any rational arguments ; by choosing venir, (a) E1 indicates that it rejects one anterior (e) – effectively produced by e1 – and introduced by « venir a decir » or (b) E1 mentions it rejects a series of minor utterances by providing an exaggerated synthesis the verbal periphrasis introduces. It is a synthesis built by E1 but presented as summarizing a series of minor utterances (e) attributed to e1 utterer. The aim is to dismiss the other’s statements by summarizing them in a magnifying trait synthesis.