Characteristic Spanish Syntax or Literary Device?

Question

In reading "El Costa De La Vida" by Carlos Fuentes, I was intrigued by the following syntax. It was employed in a scene narrated by this author.

"El director dijo que nadie se moría de hambre y que todo el mundo pasaba trabajos y los maestros se enojaron y uno dijo que ponchaba boletos en un camíon después de dar los turnos y otro que trabajaba de noche en una lonchería de Santa María la Redondo y otro tenía una miscelánea puesto con sus ahorros y sólo había venido por solidaridad."

The syntax was typical of that employed in the short story.

I wondered if the syntax was characteristic of Spanish or if it was a literary device. Could the author be deliberately describing the scene with sneering detachment? Does he deliberately seek to demonstrate aplomb in his observances of this slice of life? Or is this quote simply demonstrative of Spanish syntax?

Answer 1

It's a literary device. That syntax doesn't make much sense.

Answer 2

The syntax doesn't make any sense to me either, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't make sense to others. I defer to the forum participants who have much more of a feel for the Spanish language than myself. I would suggest however, that the writer is not actually sneering with detachment; he is very much attached to the style as can be witnessed by his abstract meanderings in the passage description. I do feel there is farcical ineptitude going on and I do not think he has any grasp whatsoever of this all too human slice of life; but that is just my two cents worth. I would love to hear others' take on this.

Wow, I love your big words Margherite! :) - 5454CkMac, May 9, 2012

You think like a Literary Critic, Margherite. And your are apt as such. - djgates, May 10, 2012

Gracias a ambos. - 0095ca4c, May 10, 2012

Answer 3

I'm a native speaker spanish and I disagree with that "make sense" argument. The reason is that I do believe that paragraph itself is what it is, I mean it's a fact as a literary device. Is not open to interpretations. Obviously Fuentes is not sneering at all. I'm not linguist but I'm familiar with literary figures and the main language problems concerning philosophy. We don't know either the context of the paragraph or the story, I don't know the whole work of Fuentes whatsoever. We should ask an expert.

Very well said Vorstellung. - 0095ca4c, May 10, 2012

I lean toward a literary device, Vorstellung. However, I think all short stories are open to interpretation. That is what makes the author's work art. I, as a novice Spanish speaker, just wanted to check my gut feeling about this. - djgates, May 10, 2012