Abstract
In this paper, the first-person plural diachronic behaviour of the verb form habemos with an existential value is analysed to explore its recovery in current Spanish as a case of refunctionalization. The latter is understood as timely cooptation of a form, which begins with any of the form’s characteristics. It is known that the cooptation’s origin might be directly, indirectly or not at all related to the previous or original use of the form. Results shown here are based on the analysis of constructions in which the first-person plural verb form of haber is used with a possessive meaning, as an auxiliary, and as existential between the 13th and 21st century. While grammaticalization theory pays attention to processes that culminate with grammatical enrichment of words or constructions, the verb form habemos with an existential meaning does not show that behaviour. It is explained as a case of refunctionalization or, at least, specialization.
Highlights
It is well known that the verb haber has played a main role in several changes throughout the history of the Spanish language
I believe that the different uses among varieties of Spanish show a different behavior; here, I am trying to show that its existential use entailed a different process from its grammaticalization as an auxiliary, which deserves an explanation based on refunctionalization and specialization—occurring recently—which are sociolinguistic nuances that deserve to be carefully studied
I would like to add that I did not find those theories useful in explaining refunctionalization regarding the development of agreement or the special case of habemos, because we are not dealing with a gradual one-way phenomenon in Spanish language history
Summary
It is well known that the verb haber has played a main role in several changes throughout the history of the Spanish language. “We have ordered our beloved priest Michelet of Mares to prepare the aforementioned altars.” Knowing esto this e and sabiendo realizing que that habemos de PREP ir to go-INF a aquella to that vida life perdurable everlasting [ . Notwithstanding the new morphologic characterization of the verb, agreement between the noun phrase, designating what I call ‘existing entity’ and the verb, has consistently been rejected by grammarians (Bello 1997, §781–784; Gili Gaya 1943, §62; Seco 1989, §8.2.2 footnote; Real Academia Española 1973, §3.5.7.c, d; RAE/ASALE Real Academia Española & Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española, §41.6b, c, d, e) This rejection proves that the noun phrase has been reanalysed as the syntactical subject, because, even though existential sentences using haber are not classified as intransitive structures, they are closer to that classification than to that of transitive structures in speakers’ minds. “How can someone get an expert? Here in the teaching cloud there will be many of us to support each other.”
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