Variação e especificidades funcionais no domínio da causalidade

Abstract

In this article, I discuss the semantic equivalences and the functionaldifferences of two forms of expressing causal relations in oralPortuguese: the complex clauses with the connector because(porque) and the prepositional phrases introduced by “por causade”. It is my intention to show that, even though these two formspossess a common nucleus of meaning, they perform differentcommunicative purposes. While the clause introduced by “porque”focuses on the action responsible for a fact, the prepositional phraseintroduced by “por causa de” performs a metaphorical causalrelation, concentrating on the result of an action.