A não-atribuição de causalidade na Crônica Geral da Espanha de 1344

Abstract

This work aims to characterize formally, semantically and pragmatically the passive, middle and impersonal constructions, in order to elucidate the nature of relation between these constructions in a archaic Portuguese, a relation observed in researches, such as those of Camacho (2002, 2003, 2006), in modern Portuguese. The present research, thus, claims that the common feature of these constructions is the non-attribution of causality, and that they represent different event conceptualizations. Based on principles, founded on a cognitive-functional approach (GIVÓN, 1993, 1995, 2002, 2005; KEMMER, 1993; CAMACHO, 2002, 2003, 2006; HOPPER & THOMPSON, 1980; POTTIER, 1992; CROFT, 1994, 1998; LANGACKER, 1987, 1991; DELANCEY, 1987; TALMY, 1988, 2000; LAKOFF, 1977), the codification of the non-attribution of causality is analyzed in Crônica Geral de Espanha de 1344, a representative historical text in archaic Portuguese, edited by Cintra (1951). In this analysis, answers are sought for the following questions: (a) in the analyzed corpus, which is the most and the least prototypical verbal recourses available for the expression of the non-attribution of causality? (b) which semantic, pragmatical and formal features characterize the different strategies used for expressing the non-attribution of causality? The central hypothesis considers that analyzed constructions codify the non-attribution of causality at various degrees, according to aspects related to the causality notion, such as perspectivization and salience. A large number of occurrences (1061, in total) were collected and analyzed from the perspective of pragmatical aspects such as topicality and informational status; semantic aspects, such as cognitive salience of Affected and of Causative, animacy, affectation type; and formal aspects, such as order and expression. Moreover, all of such occurrences were graduated regarding the transitivity degree and the Grounding. The results indicate that middle construction is the most prototypical of the non-attribution of causality constructions, because it presents less salient causative and is posited in the least degree of transitivity. Passive, most frequent in the corpus and, often, with omitted causative, was characterized as the least prototypical construction because its causative is commonly evoked and it presents a higher degree of transitivity. Impersonal construction, whose causative is frequently inferable, was characterized as more causative and more transitive than the middle construction, however, less than passive. Therefore, the analyses demonstrated that non-attribution of causality is not an isolated phenomenon, limited to the manifestation of an Agent. It is subject to degrees of escalarization which is attached to temporal and aspectual event contours. Because of experiential notion of causality, linked to the idea movement, perfective events are more causal than imperfective ones