THE PROSE OF THE FIRST MARAGALL. LINGUISTIC STUDY OF THE AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOTES (1885-886)

Identifier:  imarina:9438333

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9438333

Authors:  Ginebra, Jordi

Abstract:
In this article a morphological, lexical and syntactic analysis of the Notes autobiografiques (1885-1886) is carried out in order to characterize the linguistic profile of the first Maragall. This is the first Maragallian Catalan prose text that we have preserved, not intended for publication, written during the period of his literary formation. These circumstances lead to the initial hypothesis that the language used must have been a living, spontaneous language, raised at the margin of grammatical prescriptions and formal conventions. However, the conclusion of the research is that there is much linguistic artifice in the text. Maragall knows-and follows, with hesitations- the "precepts" of the literary language of the time. Likewise, the language of the Notes autobiografiques, in some aspects, departs from the model more closely linked to the Floralesque style. Be that as it may, the text does not show signs of a personal position of grammatical indiscipline, contrary to linguistic codification. The well-known Maragallian position against regulations and academies is a position that would be developed later on. On the other hand, the text does not offer elements that make us think that the author's linguistic background was inferior to that of other writers of the same time and age. Finally, if this text, from a literary point of view, can be considered a spontaneous text, the fact is that literary spontaneity is not necessarily linked to linguistic spontaneity.