Grammaticalization in the domain of causality

Based on the Grammaticalization approach (HOPEER; TRAUGOTT, 1993), this article presents a comparative analyze among the connectors por causa que (“by cause that”), porque (because) and que (that), aiming at asserting an implementation of a semantic-pragmatic specialization (HOPPER, 1991) among spoken Portuguese causal connectors. The uses of the connectors in question are discussed using the semantic-pragmatic approach designed by Sweetser (1991), according to which causality can be established in three distinct domains: the referential domain, the epistemic domain and the speech act domain. Furthermore, part of the analyze is based on the iconicity functionalist principle (NEVES, 2004, 2010). KEYWORDS: Grammaticalization; Causality; Connectors; Specialization; Iconicity.Baseado na abordagem da Gramaticalização (HOPEER; TRAUGOTT, 1993), este artigo apresenta uma análise comparativa entre os conectores causais por causa que, porque e que, a fim de atestar a implementação de um processo de especialização semântico-pragmática (HOPPER, 1991) no inventário dos conectores causais do português falado. Os usos desses conectores são descritos à luz da proposta de Sweetser (1991), segundo a qual a relação de causalidade pode ser estabelecida em três domínios distintos: o domínio referencial, o domínio epistêmico e o domínio dos atos de fala. Além disso, parte da análise se baseia no princípio funcionalista da iconicidade (NEVES, 2004, 2010).PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Gramaticalização. Causalidade. Conectores. Especialização. Iconicidade.ABSTRACT Based on the Grammaticalization approach (HOPEER; TRAUGOTT, 1993), this article presents a comparative analyze among the connectors por causa que (“by cause that”), porque (because) and que (that), aiming at asserting an implementation of a semantic-pragmatic specialization (HOPPER, 1991) among spoken Portuguese causal connectors. The uses of the connectors in question are discussed using the semantic-pragmatic approach designed by Sweetser (1991), according to which causality can be established in three distinct domains: the referential domain, the epistemic domain and the speech act domain. Furthermore, part of the analyze is based on the iconicity functionalist principle (NEVES, 2004, 2010). KEYWORDS: Grammaticalization; Causality; Connectors; Specialization; Iconicity