Komaren erabilera - Igone Zabala/Juan Carlos Odriozola Leioako Zientzi Fakultateko irakasleak

According to the authors of the article, the comma is the most contl oversial punctuation mark, as there are no fixed rules regarding its use. Besides the correct use of the comma requires a higher level of linguistic competence, given the morphosyntactic nature of the independence hetween elements which are separated hy means of this punctuation mark.

With this approach, the authors hy to look fbr the main rules for the use of commas (point 1), among which the first one which might he mentioned is that within independent nominal or verbal elements which make up the same syntactic unit no comma should he used. Another invaliable use of the comma is to indicate the focus elements of a clause, which in oral speech are usually indicated hy a change of intonation, and which in the Basque language often provoke marked groupings of the clause, which are different to neutral grouping (point 2).

In the third section, the use of the comma in chains of elements and in appositions is analysed, as well as composite clauses; among these, it seems that subordinate clauses hehave in the same way as independent elements of simple clauses (point 4).

Later (point 5), an analysis is made of what punctuation is required by the different connecting elements, such as in effect, also, on the other hand, and, or, nevertheless, etc.

These rules for using commas are summarised in the following point. In the seventh and last point, the authors mention the fact that the putting into practice of all the r ules mentioned might lead to a certain stylistic stiffness or heaviness, and consequently suggest a series of alternative styles which can improve the rhythm of the sentence.