Approximative, ponderative and affective ‘su’ of speakers in Santiago, Chile: A grammatical and sociolinguistic study

Abstract

This investigation presents a characterization of the colloquial usage of the word su’ of Santiago de Chile speakers within two dimensions: grammatical and sociolinguistic. First, a historical review allows to indicate that the colloquial use of approximative, ponderative and affective ‘su’, with a mostly determining function, has its origins in Latin language and can be found in early Spanish testimonies and subsequently in other Hispano-American countries. After the revision of 108 sociolinguistic interviews, it can be concluded that the use of ‘su’ as an affective determinant constitutes a possessive differentiated value, not described neither in grammars nor in any following studies. Along with this, it is concluded that it is possible to group these usage cases of ‘su’ in five thematic axes: 1) refreshments and liquors, 2) food, 3) home utensils or important possessions, 4) events, processes and activities and 5) human beings. Finally, findings about the sociolinguistic distribution in the phenomenon allows the corroboration of the initial hypothesis, since this is a phenomenon that is found more in male speakers of the studied parole community, especially in young men with lower study levels.