Superlative constructions in brazilian portuguese: tri [x], baita [x] and puta [x]

Authors

  • Heloísa Pedroso de Moraes Feltes Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS)
  • Marciele Borchert Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5007/1984-8412.2018v15n2p3066

Abstract

This study aims to explore superlative constructions from Construction Grammar (GOLDBERG, 1995, 2006; MIRANDA; SALOMÃO, 2009), having as main theoretical and methodological bases studies on superlativization (CARRARA, 2015; MACHADO, 2011). In order to verify productive superlative expressions in the colloquial use of Brazilian Portuguese, we investigated the occurrences of the expressions tri (as a prefix), baita and puta, in Corpus do Português. We searched definitions of tri, baita and puta, with the objective of eliciting the origin and motivation for the expressions. Regarding the formalization, we fitted them into the patterns proposed by the reviewed studies: tri as Prefixal Degree Modification Construction (CARRARA, 2015); and baita and puta as General Superlative Constructions. The analysis allowed us to propose constructional matrices and the enlargement of the superlative constructional net in Brazilian Portuguese.

Author Biographies

Heloísa Pedroso de Moraes Feltes, Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS)

Doutora e mestre em Linguística Aplicada pela Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul. Professora dos Programas de Pós-Graduação em Letras e Cultura da Universidade de Caxias do Sul e de Doutorado em Letras, Associação Ampla UCS/ UniRitter. 

Marciele Borchert, Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS)

Mestre em Letras, Cutura e Regionalidade pela Universidade de Caxias do Sul. Licenciada em Letras-Língua Portuguesa pela UCS.

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Published

2018-07-12

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 2 (2018)

Section

Article

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