Vuestra atención, por favor ‘your attention, please’. Some remarks on the usage and history of plural vuestro/a in Cusco Spanish (Peru)

Research on the usage of the possessive form 'vuestro/a' in Cusco Spanish reveals its dual function: as a formulaic phrase (e.g., 'vuestra atención, por favor') and a strategic tool to contrast actions or states between plural addressees and the speaker's group. This phenomenon, previously overlooked in American Spanish, is analyzed through three hypotheses linking it to colonial and early post-independence Spanish influences, with consideration of potential notional transfer from Quechua to Spanish. The study contextualizes this linguistic development within Cusqueno society, highlighting its role in shaping an idiosyncratic mestizo identity.

Dankel, P., & Gutiérrez Maté, M. (2020). Vuestra atención, por favor ‘your attention, please’. Some remarks on the usage and history of plural vuestro/a in Cusco Spanish (Peru). Address in Portuguese and Spanish, 317–360. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110701234-010