Die grammatika van die groteske: 'n linguistiese leesmodus

Abstract

In hierdie artikel word gepoog om aan te toon in welke mate die groteske die matrys van 'n taalteorie vorm. Allereers is teoreties ondersoek ingestel na die wese van die groteske. Daar is bevind dat die vermenging van kontrasterende, paradoksale en skynbaar onverenigbare elemente die ontwykende kern van die groteske vorm. Op linguistiese vlak is hierdie nuwe grammatikaparadigma ook terugherlei na die vermenging van onverenigbares op fonologiese, morfologiese, sintaktiese en semantiese taalvlak. Die grammatika van die groteske manifesteer dus op alle taalvlakke; dit verontagsaam en brei konvensionele taalstrukture, waardes en norme uit. Met dié begronding van die grammatika van die groteske is die nodige terminologie gemunt, én is 'n linguistiese raamwerk gebied wat die leser in staat stel om die tekste van Breyten Breytenbach heuristies te ontsluit. Sódoende is die konvensionele linguistiek met die totstandkoming van die grammatika van die groteske verruim. Die grammatika van die groteske staan veral in die teken van taalmenging en dit stel die skrywer en die leser in staat om oor die grense van konvensionele taal te beweeg.

This article attempts to demonstrate to what degree the element of the grotesque can form the matrix of a language theory. First and foremost a theoretical investigation into the essence of the grotesque was done. It was discovered that a mixture of contrasting, paradoxical and seemingly irreconcilable elements combine to form the elusive core of the grotesque. On the linguistic level this novel grammar paradigm was also traced back to a compound of irreconcilable elements on phonological, morphological, syntactic and semantic language levels. The grammar of the grotesque thus manifests itself on all language levels; it ignores and extends conventional linguistic structures, values and norms. In the process of grounding this grammar of the grotesque, the necessary vocabulary was created, and a linguistic framework was established to provide the reader with the means to undertake a heuristic exploration of the texts of Breyten Breytenbach. Thus, conventional linguistics has been broadened by the establishment of the grammar of the grotesque. The grammar of the grotesque is characterised mainly by the amalgamation of language and enables writer and reader to cross the barriers of conventional language.