Enfin et finalement, proches parents ou parents lointains?la part de la subjectivité dans un cas de prétendue synonymie

Abstract

It is common practice in dictionaries to offer synonyms as a way to complement the definition of a lexical unit. This is the case, for example, for enfin and finalement, which appear as interchangeable, at least in some contexts. This is an aspect of language that reveals both the permeability of the semantic frontiers and the existence of a “blurred” area in the lexicon. A large number of occurrences of finalement and enfin, together with the setting up of their respective properties (mainly on the basis of the polyphony theory), will be analysed in this paper. This will help us determine the similarities between these two connectors, but above all their differences. The latter will in turn shed light on the choice of one over another depending on the context. The main hypothesis of this study is that the clear distinction between the two markers hinges on a particular attitude shown by the speaker, and therefore a strong subjectivity, present in the meaning of enfin but missing in that of finalement. At the same time, this does not preclude the use of finalement with subjective overtones close to that of enfin.