Ahí se apuesta la vida. The emergence of impersonal interpretations in Spanish*

Abstract

This paper explores the range of uses associated with se constructions in Mexican Spanish. The validity of treating most se constructions as passives is under scrutiny. In contrast, a model to analyze the emergence of an important variety of impersonal interpretations is proposed. Arbitrary and quasi‐universal construals conform the base for finer interpretations for se constructions. In agreement with a usage‐based model, passive, impersonal and middle constructions are evaluated against four different genres which presumably determine the choice of se constructions for specific communicative necessities. While impersonal se constructions characterize journalistic writing and formal oral usage, middle se constructions are dominant in oral informal genres. Further specialization for impersonal se constructions, such as rules, norms, performative and arbitrary constructions are identified as a result of particular contexts determinacies.