THE CONCESSIVE STRUCTURES INTRODUCED BY IN SPITE OF (THAT) IN SPOKEN SPANISH FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF DISCURSIVE- FUNCTIONAL GRAMMAR

Abstract

This paper intends to describe the concessive constructions introduced by a pesar de (que) in spoken Peninsular Spanish under the perspective of the theory of Functional Discourse Grammar (Hengeveld and Mackenzie 2008). The aim of this study is to investigate in wich level and layer proposed by this theory these concessive clauses introduced by this conjunctions act. According to Flamenco Garcia (1999) a pesar de can be used as prepositional locution and introduce both noun phrases as well as clauses in infinitive. In turn, a pesar de que exhibits similar behavior to the conjunction aunque with respect to the use of verbal time and modes. As we see, there are morfosyntatic differences, and now it is necessary to investigate in what ways are distinguished a pesar de and a pesar de que under the hypothesis that there are semantic-pragmatic differences between these two conjunctions to mark the concessive relation, and that this difference is related to the levels and layers proposed by Functional Dis course Grammar.