Alternation of the forms –ra/-se in the Uruguayan Spanish of the XIX century

Abstract

According to studies carried out so far, the Uruguayan variety of Spanish has experienced a change in the norm regarding the use of the allomorphs of the subjunctive preterit: from an initial preponderance of cantase in the 18th century, the change has developed the present situation, where cantara is the prevalent form.

This study analyzes the alternation between cantara and cantase during the first part of the 19th century, to verify if the mentioned change starts in this period. However, results show a similar situation to that of the before century.

Besides, non-synonymous uses of cantara and cantase have been also analyzed, in order to establish the norm about the use of these verbal forms in 19th century Uruguayan Spanish.