The use of adjectives in three short stories by Juan Carlos Onetti

Abstract

The focus of this study is placed on the use of adjectives in three short stories by Juan Carlos Onetti: “El infierno tan temido”, “Esbjerg, en la costa” and “Tan triste como ella”, as a component of his style. A review of previous studies showed that, even though several stylistic features have been examined, no one highlights the use of adjectives. From this objective, it can be inferred that the methodology is stylistic, and furthermore it was deemed necessary to add a phenomenological approach because otherwise the study would become purely linguistic. Taking a stance in a debate on the definition of Onetti’s style as baroque, in which the use of adjectives is included, a conclusion was drawn on the basis of examples that it is baroque provided this term is not associated with an overblown language. And, in connection with this thesis statement, an analysis of Onetti’s use of adjectives was carried out form several perspectives with the purpose of detecting recurring paradigms that translates into a series of distinctive features.