Superlative constructions in brazilian portuguese: tri [x], baita [x] and puta [x]

Abstract

This study aims to explore superlative constructions from Construction Grammar (GOLDBERG, 1995, 2006; MIRANDA; SALOMÃO, 2009), having as main theoretical and methodological bases studies on superlativization (CARRARA, 2015; MACHADO, 2011). In order to verify productive superlative expressions in the colloquial use of Brazilian Portuguese, we investigated the occurrences of the expressions tri (as a prefix), baita and puta, in Corpus do Português. We searched definitions of tri, baita and puta, with the objective of eliciting the origin and motivation for the expressions. Regarding the formalization, we fitted them into the patterns proposed by the reviewed studies: tri as Prefixal Degree Modification Construction (CARRARA, 2015); and baita and puta as General Superlative Constructions. The analysis allowed us to propose constructional matrices and the enlargement of the superlative constructional net in Brazilian Portuguese.

Keywords

• Gramática das construções
• Construções superlativas
• Linguística cognitiva