Variation and Polysemy of the Syntagm tan luego

Abstract

The adverb luego and the syntagm tan luego (‘soon after + noun’, ‘so soon’, ‘as soon as’) are polysemous expressions: the former, depending on the presence of the immediacy feature; the latter, on whether it is compositionally formed or lexicalized. After a brief introduction dedicated to the meanings of luego in the Spanish-speaking world, the study focuses on two constructions whose meanings are formed compositionally: an adverbial syntagm and a temporal subordinate. On the other hand, the homonymous adverbial focal locution tan luego is characterized by having lost its temporal meaning, acquiring that of focalizer, close to that provided by the adverbs precisamente (‘precisely’) or justamente (‘justly’). Since the meaning of this expression is not compositionally derived like that of the other homophonous units, its formation will be explained by reanalyzing its constituents. This phrase has not received the attention of grammarians or other linguists, so this work aims to contribute to the knowledge of a Río de la Plata locution that, although little used currently in conversation, continues to appear in written, literary or journalistic language.