Alternância dos modos verbais em entrevistas sociolinguísticas: tipo de verbo, tempo e modalidade

Abstract

This study investigates the use of subjunctive in noun clauses collected in sociolinguistics interviews. The theoretical orientation is based on the assumptions of Labovian Sociolinguistics (LABOV 1972; 2001), as well as on the quantitative variation studies. The study examines the factor groups type of the main clause verb, verb tense and modality in the choice of the subjunctive or indicative mood in subordinate clauses uttered in oral interviews. The analyzed data come from the database project NORPOFOR - Oral Standard of Popular Portuguese from Fortaleza (ARAÚJO, 2011). The quantitative results are provided by GOLDVARB X (SANKOFF, TAGLIAMONTE, SMITH, 2005). The factor groups type of verb in the main clause, verb tense and modality proved to be significant in the choice of verb mood in embedded noun clauses. Thus, noun clauses with subjunctive in the embedded clauses with referential situation in the past express an epistemic value of certainty. Noun clauses with subjunctive in the embedded clause with a referential situation of futurity may be epistemic, but, more commonly, express a non-epistemic value. The results also show that the verb type in the main clause is responsible for the modal notion of the clause.