Orações condicionais correlativas no português

Abstract

This work aims to study the hypothetical conditional correlative clauses whose structure is "se p, então q" or "se p, aí q"(if-then conditionals). The analysis is based on the Functionalists paradigms proposed by Butler (2003), Snow (2012), Hirata (1999), Oliveira and Hirata-Vale (2011) in which the language is observed considering its use in effective contexts of communication. The overall objective of the research is to describe the correlative hypothetical conditional constructions of structures like "se p então q" and "se p aí q"(if-then conditionals) in spoken and written Portuguese language that was used between the XX and XXI centuries. As specific objectives, we hope that the studied parameters could show that the speakers, in the usage of the language, have at their disposal a range of possibilities for the expression of conditionality; that there are certain syntactic and semantic factors that motivate the conditional interpretation of some sentences; that the choice of a certain structure by the speaker is linked to pragmatic-discursive questions; and, that each choice encodes certain function to the terms of these sentences. According to such purpose, we will use as parameters to specify our object, the degrees of hypothesis, time and manner of the sentences nucleus, time and manner of main sentence mode, the preferred order of occurrence, the areas of activity of the conditional sentence in terms of Sweetser (1990), and the informational status of protases and apodoses. Through our analysis, it is possible to get a characterization of this type of construction in Portuguese, covering both the spoken and the written form of the language. Furthermore, it is expected that we could effectively contribute to the language studies, displaying the real complexity of the language and its use. Our analyzes show that the hypothetical correlative conditional constructions manifest different and specific meanings in certain contexts, and because of this, it can not be considered equivalent to the conditional sentences regarded as canonical, since the hypothetical correlative conditional manifest a different sense and structure from that which is manifested in the canonical conditional. It was revealed that these correlative structures manifest a bicondicional value, which is not necessarily present in the sense of the canonical conditional. In addition, the behavior of the hypothetical conditional correlative is distinct from that observed in the other conditionals, when it is considered the order of the sentences. Through this study it was evidenced that the hypothetical correlative conditional should be considered as another type of conditional, which has a more specific structure and sense, since the conditional relationship between the protases and apodoses is narrower.