Desubjectivizing discourse through the use of the periphrasis haber que + infinitive in Spanish

María José Serrano

doi:10.4995/rlyla.2022.16547

Authors

María José Serrano Universidad de La Laguna https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7968-9434

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4995/rlyla.2022.16547

Keywords:

desubjectivization, impersonals, periphrasis, salience, syntax, variation

Abstract

The present investigation analyzes the use of a construction traditionally described as impersonal: the periphrasis haber que + infinitive. This is a variable phenomenon in Spanish grammar studied as a meaningful choice based on the cognitive conceptualization of salience. The construction conveys a meaning of duty, obligation, recommendation or convenience by which the speaker accepts the situation described as unavoidable. Its use is analyzed in the texts of the Corpus Interaccional del Español, which comprises a wide range of genres and communicative situations. The hypothesis posed is that the meaning conveyed by haber que + infinitive contributes to the shaping of a communicative style based on the desubjectivity cognitive dimension.

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Author Biography

María José Serrano, Universidad de La Laguna

Full Professor of General Linguistics, Department of Spanish Philology

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