Why in Spanish “Nos Ponemos Contentos” But not “Satisfechos”: A Cognitive-Linguistic Review of The “Change-of-State Verb Ponerse + Adjective” Construction*

Abstract

Constructionist approaches to language have often viewed metaphors and metonymies either as motivating factors or constraints on lexical-constructional integration (Goldberg 1995, 2006; the Lexical-Constructional Model: Butler & Gonzálvez 2014, Gonzálvez 2020, Ruiz de Mendoza & Mairal 2008, Ruiz de Mendoza & Galera 2014). In a similar spirit, the present article provides a detailed study of the role of metaphor in the analysis of the Spanish resultative change-of-state construction “ponerse (‘put CL’) + adjective” by examining a list of metaphorical motion constructions of this kind, which are frequent in everyday language when describing temporary arousal states. By paying special attention to constraints in its lexical and constructional structure, we aim to examine whether the metaphor a change of temporary state is a change of temporary location is attested in this type of construction in the Spanish language (i.e., whether it plays a role and, if so, of what kind). It is presumed that the metaphors under analysis in connection to “ponerse + adjective” constructions systematically motivate the meaning of this change-of-state verb in Spanish when coappearing with an evaluative adjective, as long as the fact that the latter profiles a normally temporary (short duration) arousal state.