The false conjecture Spanish conditional tense in the estar + gerund periphrasis in informal digital writing

Abstract

This paper analyzes the factors behind the use of a certain kind of the Spanish conditional tense in the periphrasis estar + gerund —usually those words are preceded by a negative particle, e.g., No estaría sintiendo el impacto del #SegundoSemestre— in informal writing published in digital media. It identifies specifics employments in variations of Spanish from Argentina. In those cases, that construction refers to the modal use of that verbal tense, a characteristic use of conjecture or rumor. Now, knowledge of the context gives rise to the interpretation of a false conjecture, since it is understood that what one wants to do with that conditional is, in reality, to affirm something. We propose the analysis of texts from a macro-syntax approach.