Intensifying constructions in Italian. Types, function and representation

This investigation proposes a qualitative description of phraseological constructions playing the role of an intensifier and showing lexically empty slots. In particular, the analysis aims at identifying the set of partially lexically specified intensifying constructions of Italian, and at providing i) a general classification on the basis of different parameters (e.g. syntactic structure, lexical variability, degree of schematicity, productivity), and ii) a formal constructionist representation of their syntactic-semantic schemas. The investigation aims at demonstrating that the set of partially lexically specified constructional intensifiers is extremely variegated in Italian, and that new combinatory forms can be created from lexically empty patterns, and new abstract constructions and productive schemata can arise through frequency of use, routinisation and conventionalisation.