The domain of concession

an analysis based on the uses of clause constructions with mesmo que, ainda que and se bem que

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of three constructions that are similar in form and in function: the adverbial clauses initiated by ainda que, mesmo que and se bem que, that are traditionally considered to be concessive adverbial clauses. Taking account of the principle of non-synonymy (GOLDBERG, 1995), we consider that such constructions, despite they are from the same semantic domain, present contextual differences. Based on a set of linguistic factors, we compare the uses of adverbial clauses initiated by these connectives. We used the theoretical-methodological assumptions of Usage-based Linguistics, which considers, in its analyses, the North American Functionalist assumptions, the constructionist approach and other approaches, such as Sociolinguistics. Our research, dealing with synchronic questions, seeks to verify the motivations for the uses of adverbial constructions with concessive value. The constructional model pattern that instantiates adverbial clauses is [CONNECT (S) V (C)]ADVERBIAL CLAUSE . The research was based on the analysis of three hundred data of adverbial clause constructions, being one hundred started with ainda que, one hundred with mesmo que and one hundred with se bem que, all extracted from the Web tab of the Corpus do Português. Based on a set of linguistic factors, the research focuses the issue of variation, especially with regard to the analysis of horizontal relationships between sub-schemas. The main results point to differences in uses mainly due to the greater or lesser subjectivity and the greater or lesser articulation strength of each clause and its matrix clause.