Construções avaliativas com verbos denominais: uma proposta de rede construcional

Abstract

This work aims to investigate evaluative constructions with verbs formed from nouns, the so-called “denominal verbs”, from the perspective of the Usage-based theory and the constructional approach to change. In a more specific way, we investigate the data based on the perspective of lexical constructionalization (TRAUGOTT; TROUSDALE, 2013) and based on the notion of semantic prosody (SARDINHA, 2004; LOPES, 2011; GUILHERME, 2014) and intersubjectivity (TRAUGOTT; DASHER, 2004). In the context of intersubjectivity – and from the analytical point of view –, the concepts of evaluation (WHITE, 2003), contextualization cues (GUMPERZ, 1982) and saving vs. losing face (GOFFMAN, 1967) are paramount. Accordingly, our main objective is to understand how evaluative constructions with denominal verbs are established and organized within the analyzed corpus. The more specific objectives are the following: (a) to identify the schematic levels, namely: schema, subschema and microconstruction (TRAUGOTT; TROUSDALE, 2013); (b) to accurately describe the microconstructions with denominal verbs based on intersubjectivity and semantic prosody aspects and (c) to present a constructional network with these verbs. In order to accomplish the proposed objectives, we work with a current synchronic corpus, consisted of written data collected from ten profiles in the social platform Twitter, whose samples represent the years of 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Based on a mixed method research – both qualitative and quantitative (CUNHA LACERDA, 2016) –, the obtained data suggest that the analyzed constructions highlight, in a more hierarchic level, the speaker’s intention, presenting, however, different functions in a less hierarchic level, namely: (i) evaluation with focus on an activity or an event and (ii) evaluation with focus on the perspective of the speaker towards an activity or an event, revealing the speaker’s point of view. In this context, data indicate that the first function would be related to a more personal and less intersubjective intention, while the second function would be related to a more interpersonal and more intersubjective intention. In addition, the analysis highlighted that the semantic prosody of the verb often times is totally different from that of the former noun. In this regard, based on the findings indicated by the analyzed constructional patterns, we proposed a constructional network with denominal verbs.