The grammaticalization of American Spanish igual as a reformulative and a concessive marker: is it a copy case of lo mismo?

Abstract

This paper aims at explaining the grammaticalization of igual (and lo mismo) as a reformulative and concessive marker based on a corpus of diachronic texts. The objectives are threefold: to find out the possible relation between the evolution of igual and that of lo mismo in this case, to investigate in what previous contexts the new functions were acquired and in which area they were originated. The corpus study reveals that the evolutions of both forms are related, but the change of formal preference (lo mismo > igual) caused that the grammaticalization of lo mismo as a connective failed and that of igual was successful. The exploration of the previous contexts reflects the link between the reformulative and concessive values. Finally, the process took place in Rio de la Plata area and from there it spread to the inside of Argentina and Chilean Spanish, where it became a popular form.