Infinitives of affect and intersubjectivity: on the indexical interpretation of the Finnish independent infinitives

Abstract This article presents an analysis of the structure and use Finnish independent infinitives. Although typological studies have shown that syntactically non-finite constructions are widespread in many languages, understanding their semantic intersubjective motivation is still its early stages. The current paper aims to enrich by closely looking at free-standing infinitive spoken written Finnish: it combines theoretical concepts Cognitive Grammar with methodological tools Interactional Linguistics explore nature infinitives as a resource for conceptualization functions affords. suggests fact grammatically ungrounded makes them useful interactional textual sequences involving affect display. As indexical can be explained from own morphosyntactic characteristics, more general claim there no synchronic evidence would support assumption such ever evolved, via ellipsis, finite constructions. Methodologically theoretically, advocates approach takes into account both social cognitive language, promotes view offers flexible, semantically rich starting point description meanings conveyed grammar, when combined context-sensitive microanalytical methodology Linguistics.