Beyond hypothetical manner: a functional typology of insubordinate como si-clauses

Abstract

This article explores the phenomenon of insubordination through the analysis of independent clauses introduced by the conjunction como si ‘as if’ in Spanish. Drawing on present-day corpus data, it proposes a four-way functional typology of insubordinate como si-clauses. In line with previous studies on insubordination, we observe that insubordinate constructions allow speakers to move beyond the prototypical function of como si-clauses observed in subordinate structures, in which they express hypothetical manner. Specifically, we distinguish two types which meet the narrow definition of insubordination in that they combine syntactic with discursive independence, namely denial of an assumption and scalar evaluation, as well as two types that are discursively dependent, and hence instantiate dependency shift, namely nuanced agreement and discursive elaboration or reformulation. In terms of tense-aspect-mood marking, we find that three types consistently show past subjunctive marking, while one type, that of scalar evaluation, invariably shows present indicative verb forms. In terms of discourse-interactional features, we observe that denial of an assumption clauses stand out in favouring dialogic contexts, while the other three types tend to occur in monologic contexts. Within dialogic settings then, all four types are found to be uttered more frequently turn-initially than turn-medially.