| Abstract: |
Fluent speakers of the Isleño dialect of Spanish use predictive conditionals to indicate the future consequences of current actions concerning the fragile wetlands of southeastern Louisiana. The present tense is used almost exclusively, even in hypothetical cases, to indicate the speakers’ belief in the likelihood of the unfortunate consequences coming true. The conditionals are structured as general warnings in order to conform to the politeness rules of the community, in which solidarity is foremost and blame must not be assigned to the addressees. |