A constructional approach to the different uses of levar

Abstract

We propose an integrated approach to the different uses of levar from a usage-based constructionist perspective (Bybee, 2003; Traugott e Trousdale, 2013; Goldberg, 1996, 2005; Langacker, 2008; Croft, 2001; among others). Thus, in addition to characterizing some of the main uses of this verb in the Corpus do Português data (Davies e Ferreira, 2008), hypotheses are presented about the inheritance relations that the more idiosyncratic constructions maintain with the Caused-Motion Construction (CMC) – considered the context of the most prototypical use of the verb levar (Stein, 2020; Paz e Silva, 2009). Regarding the uses analyzed, we found that levar occurs preferentially in constructions with light verbs, such as [levar vantagem] and [levar a vida], both linked to the schema [levar NP]. More procedural constructions are also very common in the corpus, such as the connector [levando em conta], which establishes a causal relationship of the type 'if X, then Y'. As for the inheritance relations, there is evidence that the schema with the light verb [levar X] enables, at least in part, several independent constructions, working as a point of contact between them and the CMC. Although the constructions listed here are not exhaustively described, we present an inventory of such units, so that they can be investigated in more detail in future works.