Aspectual verb forms in directive utterances (12th‒21th centuries)
It is described the use of Spanish aspectual verbal constructions in directive utterances between the 12th and 21st centuries. It is argued that, in addition to their aspectual values, these constructions fulfil some pragmatic functions in formal registers, especially some politeness verbal strategies in legal and administrative discourse, as well as the expression of instructions in procedural discourse. Some other illocutionary functions are found in dialogue. These non aspectual functions are documented from classical Spanish to the 20th century.
