Parenthetical statements and their polyphonic significance in the prose of Koldo Mitxelena

Abstract

The present article has two main objectives: i) To demonstrate that parenthetical statements are used by the Basque linguist to insert different voices and perspectives through the doubling of the addresser; ii)to prove that the alluded polyphonic discursive strategy helps the addresser expand his discursive argumentation. Through the calculated use of interpolative structures two different discourses traverse and, hence, two purported interpretations are allowed. The article posits that it is the language contained in parenthetical statements which is loaded with the addresser’s argumentative line.