Semantic sociointerational and cognitive factors in instances of the modal construction with ficar de + infinitive

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss functional aspects of the Modal construction with ficar de + infinitive. We aim to analyze semantic, sociointeractional and cognitive factors in instances of that construction. The theoretical support is the Usage-Based Functional Linguistics and the Construction Grammar. Our database is instances taken from the website Reclame Aqui. The research findings reveal that there is no constraint in the type of verb gathered to fill in the infinitive slot of the construction and its use is related to the notions of modality in its deontic and or epistemic aspects. Regarding to sociointeractional and cognitive aspects, we also observed that the instances of use of ficar de + inifinitive are related to (inter)subjectivity, meaning negotiation and metaphorical and metonymic processes.