Aproximacion a la gramatica del discurso del espanol (review)

In Aproximación, Serrano is striving to organize, systematize, and regularize the grammar found in oral discourse by creating a grammatical theory that takes into account the complexity and variation found in the same. In this manner, S uses the word approximation in the title in recognition of the fact that a theory of discourse will be ‘inacabado’ (5) or unfinished.

The literature review (7–72) introduces formalism and functionalism in linguistics. In short, formalism holds that language is an expression of thought, competence has greater priority, and syntax is independent from semantics and pragmatics, while functionalism holds that language is used for communication, performance has greater priority, and syntax goes hand in hand with pragmatics. S proposes using the functional paradigm to create a discourse grammar rooted in three basic points: the regularity principle, the functionality principle, and the methodological principle.

Following the prologue and literature review, the next eight chapters break down the grammar of discourse into categories very similar to a traditional parts of speech list. Each section includes a definition of its category and provides examples of the language in use. In many cases, comparative examples are shown in order to distinguish one usage from another.

Ch. 1 (73–91) begins the grammar section with pronouns and determiners. A succinct example of what S is attempting to document appears with the use of subject pronouns, which are not obligatory in the Spanish language, but when used carry meaning nonetheless. Ch. 2 (92–98) moves to nouns and adjectives, which are grouped together because their functions are very narrow and they share gender and number morphemes. Chs. 3 and 4 (99–106, 107–8) deal with the use of nouns and adjectives that syntactically function as nouns/adjectives, but do not do so morphologically.

Chs. 5 and 6 (109–11, 113–28) are concerned with adverbs and their many manifestations, whether as subordinates, expressionals, or functionals. Verbs are divided in Ch. 7 (129–46) according to tense, mood, and select expressions like ir + infinitive. The last chapter dealing with grammatical categories is Ch. 8 (147–68) on connectors: prepositions, conjunctions, and adverbs. This chapter is dedicated to showing a distinction among the three categories in a discourse grammar. This is an especially important chapter as it brings meaning to commonly used expressions found only in discourse (such as: pues, vale, hombre, and sabes, among others).

Ch. 9 (169–79) deals with how to interpret oral discourse by taking into account the underlying factors involved. Inference, context, theme, cohesion, coherence, and pragmatic/sociolinguistic information are woven together to demonstrate how each contributes to the others.

Finally, Ch. 10 (180–219) attempts to organize discourse into categories. The categories include such labels as formal interview, political, religious, institutional, and unplanned discourse. All of these examples are followed by brief sample utterances.

This text is a solid first step in defining the grammar of discourse in the Spanish language and is a resource for any pragmatician or sociolinguist.