Alderaketa adierazkorrak. Bezain-en erabilera euskaraz [Expressive comparisons. Use of bezain in Basque]

Abstract

In this article, we deal with what we have called “expressive comparisons”. Most of these have been taken from literature, although some examples have been collected from spoken Basque. As is known, in the languages in our environment (Castilian, French, English, etc.), comparisons of this type are numerous, speakers using them almost without realising, due, without doubt, to the strong social presence of these languages. In the case of Basque, however, despite being quite frequent in literary works, they are far less so –bar exceptions– in the spoken language, probably due to its scant presence in society. We would also like to highlight the difference observed between continental and peninsular Vasconia: while in the former, the most habitual form is the one employing bezain, in the second, the most frequent is the comparison which uses baino...-ago. We would like to point out, however, that both are used on both sides of the Pyrenees, the difference being proportion, the frequency of use of one or the other form.