Use-Conditional Meaning of Morphological Diminutives in Brazilian Portuguese
Document Type
Paper Presentation
Presenter Language
English
Research Area
pragmatics and semantics
Location
MBSC Gallery Room 308
Start Date
17-10-2024 5:30 PM
End Date
17-10-2024 6:00 PM
Abstract
This project proposes a novel approach to understand how meaning is conveyed in Brazilian Portuguese when combining morphological diminutives (like "-zinho") with adjectives like "pequeno" (small) and "grande" (big). The core argument is that morphological diminutives are not simply indicators of size but rather function as "functional mixed UCIs" (Unconventional Category Instances). This concept, borrowed from Gutzmann (2013), allows us to analyze how diminutives interact with adjectives in a nuanced way. The previous research has attempted to logically explain how non-truth-conditional meaning is conveyed, in the same way we can explain truth-conditional meaning, (Bara 1999; Jurafsky 1996; Dressler & Barbaresi 1994; Amaral 2018). Gutzmann’s (2013) contribution identifies expressions which convey use-conditional meaning, and classifies their functions as use-conditional items (UCIs). UCIs may convey meaning at the word level, or beyond the word level, showing that use-conditional meaning is as complex as conventional meaning (Gutzmann 2013). Further, Gutzmann (2013) provides his criteria for evaluating an expression’s use-conditional function by whether the expression satisfies the requirements of features he deems integral to UCIs.
Horn's (1993) theory of "semantic slot" is then employed to explain how these combinations work. When a diminutive and an adjective compete for the same semantic space ("smallness" for both diminutive and "pequeno"), a "semantic clash" occurs. This clash is resolved by weakening the diminutive's ability to convey its literal meaning (size). Consequently, the diminutive only conveys its "use-conditional" meaning, which can be affection, informality, etc. The analysis demonstrates that diminutives with "grande" always convey use-conditional meaning due to the inherent semantic clash. Interestingly, the same effect applies to "pequeno" as well – an unintended yet insightful finding of the proposed approach.
Use-Conditional Meaning of Morphological Diminutives in Brazilian Portuguese
MBSC Gallery Room 308
This project proposes a novel approach to understand how meaning is conveyed in Brazilian Portuguese when combining morphological diminutives (like "-zinho") with adjectives like "pequeno" (small) and "grande" (big). The core argument is that morphological diminutives are not simply indicators of size but rather function as "functional mixed UCIs" (Unconventional Category Instances). This concept, borrowed from Gutzmann (2013), allows us to analyze how diminutives interact with adjectives in a nuanced way. The previous research has attempted to logically explain how non-truth-conditional meaning is conveyed, in the same way we can explain truth-conditional meaning, (Bara 1999; Jurafsky 1996; Dressler & Barbaresi 1994; Amaral 2018). Gutzmann’s (2013) contribution identifies expressions which convey use-conditional meaning, and classifies their functions as use-conditional items (UCIs). UCIs may convey meaning at the word level, or beyond the word level, showing that use-conditional meaning is as complex as conventional meaning (Gutzmann 2013). Further, Gutzmann (2013) provides his criteria for evaluating an expression’s use-conditional function by whether the expression satisfies the requirements of features he deems integral to UCIs.
Horn's (1993) theory of "semantic slot" is then employed to explain how these combinations work. When a diminutive and an adjective compete for the same semantic space ("smallness" for both diminutive and "pequeno"), a "semantic clash" occurs. This clash is resolved by weakening the diminutive's ability to convey its literal meaning (size). Consequently, the diminutive only conveys its "use-conditional" meaning, which can be affection, informality, etc. The analysis demonstrates that diminutives with "grande" always convey use-conditional meaning due to the inherent semantic clash. Interestingly, the same effect applies to "pequeno" as well – an unintended yet insightful finding of the proposed approach.