A micro-comparative approach to DOM in language-contact environments: the case of Catalan, Basque and Spanish

Abstract

This paper focuses on the interaction between Spanish DOM, on the one hand, and Basque and Catalan DOM on the other. We thus address the contact situation attested among these languages from a micro-comparative perspective and we base on both diachronic as well as synchronic data. In Basque the phenomenon is attested in Southwestern1 varieties, that is, in those varieties which are in contact with Spanish. In Catalan, it is widespread across most dialects, except for Roussillon Catalan (spoken in France), which aligns with Basque Northeastern varieties, also in contact with French. In both languages, the use of DOM has traditionally been considered by the prescriptive grammars as the result of the influence and pressure of Spanish, although several factors lead us to relativize the impact of such contact scenario.