Constructing discourse and discourse constructions

Résumé

In line with previous work on the Lexical Constructional Model or LCM(Ruiz de Mendoza & Mairal, 2008; Ruiz de Mendoza, 2013), the present paperpostulates the existence of fixed form-meaning pairings, or constructions, atdiscourse level. The paper first argues that discourse relations such as restatement,contrast, condition, and others, provide cognitive base domains againstwhich the fixed elements of discourse constructions are profiled. Then, thepaper claims that the different constructions that profile the same base domainare members of the same family and discusses the degree of interchangeability,in terms of discourse connectivity, among members of the same family. Finally,the paper studies some examples of how such connectivity can also be achievedon the basis of coherence relations arising from other levels of linguisticdescription