Variações semânticas no (des)uso do clítico se no português falado em vitória da conquista

Abstract

In this paper, we aim to describe the semantic variations in the (dis)use of the clitic SE, in structures traditionally classified as reflexive, in the vernacular speech of Vitória da Conquista-BA. Such variations act as signs of change trajectory, causing the SE to move from the original function of reflexive clitic to the category of verbal affix, through grammaticalization. To test this hypothesis, we analyze data extracted from the oral corpora PPVC (Corpus do Português Popular de Vitória da Conquista), and PCVC (Corpus do Português Culto de Vitória da Conquista), based on the postulates of Labovian Variationist Sociolinguistics and Sociofuncionalism. Our results evidenced the preference of the conquistenses for the use of the clitic. As for linguistic conditioning, the presence of SE was sensitive to the type of clitic and to the semantic class of the verb. Regarding social conditioning, we found that the use of SE is more favored among the more educated informants and in the middle range.