Graduation Year

2003

Publication Date

Spring 2003

Comments

This work is dated 2002 but it was awarded Honors in 2003.

Abstract

The Spanish copula of seriestar has not only been a heavily investigated topic In Hispanic linguistics throughout the past century (Crespo, 1946; De Mello, 1979; Franco & Steinmetz, 1983), but it has actually been receiving much attention for more than eight hundred years (Vaii6-Cerda, 1982). The serlestar verb copula is equivalent to only one verb in many other languages, such as English, in which both ser and estar are translated as 'to be.' Whereas in English we explain and describe existence, location, and state with the use of the one simple verb, 'to be,' Spanish speakers face a decision between two verbs. If the differences in choosing between ser and estar were always clearly defined and simple, this copula would not be as confusing and problematic as it has been historically. The complication is rooted in the lack of uncovering and recognizing the full semantic values and differences between the two verbs.

Disciplines

Other Languages, Societies, and Cultures

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