| ISSN: 1139-8736 |
5. Semantic differences between constructions
First of all, these two constructions are not completely interchangeable. While constructions with a personal IO can always be interpreted as destination constructions with a preposition ‘a’, there are certain destination constructions that cannot be transformed into an IO construction:
Other examples where both constructions are not posible are:
What is the difference between these sentences and other sentences like:
We can “plantarle una flor a la maceta” or “ponerle azúcar al café” even if both these situations should be predominantly containment. But we cannot “llevarle un traje nuevo a misa” or “tenderle la ropa al sol”. It is because in the cases where we can use the IO construction, the destination/IO suffers some kind of alteration as a result of the transitive action.
If we simply want to plant a flower in a pot so that the flower doesn’t die we say “plantar la flor en la maceta” but if the plant pot looks sad and lonely and we can only fix that by planting a flower into it then we say “plantarle una flor a la maceta.” Likewise, if we have been holding a cushion for an hour, and we don’t know what to do with it, we can say “poner el cojín en el sillón” but if the couch looks uncomfortable, in order to improve its condition we can say “ponerle un cojín al sillón.”
On the other hand, a religious service does not improve by adding elegance to my attire, neither the sun by hanging clothes under it. Mars is not thrilled to receive a spaceship, and the wind does not appreciate the songs we let out. This proves that when we use the destination construction we are construing the destination as a detached, passive, background figure that has little to do with the main action. Instead, when we are using an IO construction, the IO/destination becomes and active Experiencer in the landmark of the action.
Furthermore, in those cases in which we can use both constructions, such as in
a) Echar guindas al pavo
Echarle guindas al pavo
b) Poner un lazo en el regalo
Ponerle un lazo al regalo
c) Grabar iniciales en el anillo
Grabarle iniciales al anillo
the cases with destination construction can have a contrastive meaning:
Echa guindas al pavo, (no pepinillos)
Pon un lazo en el regalo, (no una tarjeta)
Graba iniciales en el anillo (no la fecha de la boda)
This further stresses the fact that the Direct Object is more in a foregrounded position than the location. Instead, we use the following examples,
Échale guindas al pavo (para que esté más bueno)
Échale guindas al pavo (no al pollo)
Ponle lazos al regalo (para que esté más bonito)
Ponle lazos al regalo (no al árbol)
Grábale las iniciales al anillo (para que Antonio siempre se acuerde de ti)
Grábale las iniciales al anillo (no a la medalla)
which further stresses the fact that the Indirect Object, the Experiencer, is in a foregrounded position. This is even further stressed by the fact that Spanish adds the IO pronoun “le” which is located closer to the Subject than the full Indirect Object. This is an iconic way of indicating that the IO has been personalized. If we remember what we said at the beginning of the article, towards the beginning of the event we find entities that are more active, that have volition and that can initiate movement—usually people or personified entities. Towards the end of the action we find passive entities that suffer the action—usually objects or objectified entities. Adding this pronoun towards the beginning of the sentence is an iconic way of showing that this indirect object has been personified and is active.
Furthermore, in those cases in which we can use both constructions, such as in
a) Echar guindas al pavo
Echarle guindas al pavo
b) Poner un lazo en el regalo
Ponerle un lazo al regalo
c) Grabar iniciales en el anillo
Grabarle iniciales al anillo
the cases with destination construction can have a contrastive meaning:
Echa guindas al pavo, (no pepinillos)
Pon un lazo en el regalo, (no una tarjeta)
Graba iniciales en el anillo (no la fecha de la boda)
This further stresses the fact that the Direct Object is more in a foregrounded position than the location. Instead, we use the following examples,
Échale guindas al pavo (para que esté más bueno)
Échale guindas al pavo (no al pollo)
Ponle lazos al regalo (para que esté más bonito)
Ponle lazos al regalo (no al árbol)
Grábale las iniciales al anillo (para que Antonio siempre se acuerde de ti)
Grábale las iniciales al anillo (no a la medalla)
which further stresses the fact that the Indirect Object, the Experiencer, is in a foregrounded position. This is even further stressed by the fact that Spanish adds the IO pronoun “le” which is located closer to the Subject than the full Indirect Object. This is an iconic way of indicating that the IO has been personalized. If we remember what we said at the beginning of the article, towards the beginning of the event we find entities that are more active, that have volition and that can initiate movement—usually people or personified entities. Towards the end of the action we find passive entities that suffer the action—usually objects or objectified entities. Adding this pronoun towards the beginning of the sentence is an iconic way of showing that this indirect object has been personified and is active.
Volumen 23 (2006) ISSN: 1139-8736 |