Summary Details
| Query: |
Spanish Verb Particles
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| Author: | Gjevnoe Kurt | |
| Submitter Email: | click here to access email | |
| Linguistic LingField(s): |
Syntax
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| Summary: |
Dear linguists,
On the 10 april this year I posted a question to the following effect: ''The problem this time is the usage of the preposition 'a' when it follows a verb as a part of the same verbal expression ( i.e., as a particle verb where the particle (the preposition) is an integral part of the nucleus of the predicate.) Examples are 'voy a' (immediate future), 'aprendo a' and 'empiezo a'. In speech, the preposition will disappear through fusion with an infinitive if this begins with the vowel 'a' (or 'ha'), which feels rather natural.. Examples are ''ya voy hacerlo'', ''aprendi? hablar'' and ''empez? aclarar''. In writing, however, this usage is irritating. I should prefer ''ya voy a hacerlo'' , ''aprendi? a hablar'' y ''empez? a aclarar''. I have observed the fusion in narration by varios writers and I haven't liked it. What I do not find in any grammar book (asking native speakers is a hopeless venture, of course) is a norm that would permit or describe which usage is the most correct in writing.'' I've received very useful responses from the following: Lee Hartman Earl Herrick Jos? Luis Mendivil Giro Karl Reinhardt Miguel Rodr?guez-Mondo?edo Juan C. Ruiz Guillermo Soto and Stanley Whitley to whom my best thanks go. In sum, the subject (ab)use of Spanish was considered either unimaginable or reprehensible, Lee Hartman proved from a frequencyanalysis in a population of more than 3000 examples in Corpus de Referencia de la Lengua Espa?ola Contempor?nea that the usage is found to be extremely rare. He refers to Charles Kany (''American-Spanish Syntax'', Chicago, 1951), who is also quoted by Manuel Seco in ''Diccionario de dudas de la lengua espa?ola'', Madrid, 1992 as pointed out by Miguel Rodr?guez-Mondo?edo. I quote Lee Hartman: ''...Kany (1951:333-334), who points out that in Old Spanish the _a_ was ''not required'' with an infinitive after a verb of motion, and that this omission has survived in ''popular and rustic speech'', especially in the New World. Kany gives several examples from dialog in Spanish-American novels.'' I conclude from the responses, that the usage in spoken language may be owing to high speed synalepha resulting in fusion/disappearance of the particle 'a' or/and is a survival from Old Spanish like so many oddities found especially in the New World. I also conclude that the usage is not considered to be in good taste i narrative writing. Again, I thank the respondents warmly for their interest in my problem. Kurt kurtgjevnoe@aol.com (Kurt Gjevnoe, Quer?taro, M?xico) |
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| LL Issue: | 13.1090 | |
| Date Posted: | 19-Apr-2002 | |
| Original Query: | Read original query | |
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