Punctuation as an index of rhythmic aspects of language

Abstract

In this article I discuss one of the ways some researchers view punctuation, i. e., as an index of rhythmic aspects of language. Among these aspects I point out the ones of metric nature (such as rhythmic symmetry) and the ones which are specific to spoken language (such as: breath movements; the alteration of pauses, intonation contours and others prosodic characteristics of speech; the sensation of satisfied expectation; and the break of expectation). I also point out rhythmic aspects that would be more directly linked to the written expression of language (such as rhythmic parallelism and the longer idea unit)