Ser and Estar in Spanish: A Scalar Accoun

The distribution of the copulas ser and estar presents an interesting problem in Spanish. Although there is a vast literature on the topic, the difference in their interpretations remains elusive. This dissertation proposes that all uses of ser and estar can be reduced to a difference in the scalar properties of their predicates.;Several problems are identified in the existing literature regarding copula distribution in Spanish. Traditional approaches to ser and estar base their accounts on temporal properties, instantiated around concepts such as permanent and temporary, stage and individual level predicates or other aspectual properties. A close analysis of of ser and estar predicates reveals that temporal properties are not a factor in their distribution. A sentence such as Esas casas rojas estan vacias "Those red houses areestar empty" gives no information about the occupancy of the houses at any point in time. Another area where traditional theories also make wrong predictions about the distribution of the copulas. Adjectives like rico `rich’ and famoso "famous" can easily be interpreted as both permanent or temporary, and yet their use in estar predications is unob served in Spanish. Any theoretical approach to ser and estar needs to be able to explain these gaps in the data. Finally, evidential uses of estar, such as Este vino esta estupendo "This wine isESTAR great" not only escape traditional accounts, but have mostly been ignored, despite being commonplace in Spanish.;This dissertation proposes that ser predicates denote a single point on a scale, whereas estar predicates denote an interval on that scale. In the case of non-evidential uses of estar, I propose that estar is sensitive to the scalar structure of adjectives. In order to generate a scalar interval, closed-scale adjectives, such as vacio "empty", require access to the opposite state defined by the adjective. Open-scale adjectives, like guapo "pretty" also require a natural process that drives the change in state. The importance of this natural process is not only shown based on data from Spanish, but also from the empirical data gathered in the experimental section of this dissertation. In evidential estar, the scalar interval is generated by comparing the distance of the degree projected by the subject of the predication to the standard of comparison.;The theoretical framework in this dissertation accounts for the non-temporality of the copulas by requiring estar predications access to a potential different state, not an actual realization of it. Temporary predicates become a sub-set of all uses of estar. Additionally, it can account for the gaps in the data in terms of the requirement of a natural process in open-scale estar predications. Finally, evidential uses of estar are subsumed under the same paradigm as non-evidential uses, the only difference being how the scalar interval is constructed. Although this dissertation focuses on adjectival predications, its proposal can be extended to other contexts of ser and estar. Furthermore, the relevance of the natural process and the result of the experiment presented here presents future avenues for research in L2 acquisition and pedagogy.