On Englishturn outand Spanishresultarmirative constructions

Abstract

AbstractThis article focuses on the diachronic development of Englishturn outand Spanishresultar‘turn out’ mirative constructions. Having undergone processes of semantic generalization over time, both verbs express evidential and, most prominently, mirative nuances in the present-day languages. This study explores the mechanisms that condition the evolution ofturn outandresultarfrom their original meanings as lexical resultative and change-of-state verbs towards their eventual subjectification and grammaticalization as predicates conveying evidential and mirative senses. The present-day mirative constructions takethat- and infinitival complement clauses in both languages. The analysis suggested here shows that both verbs exhibit diverging, though closely related, paths and degrees of grammaticalization. Moreover, this study delves into the further development of these predicates as parenthetical expressions. While English parentheticalturns outhas already been grammaticalized, Spanishresultamay be on its way to becoming a grammaticalized parenthetical.