La Herencia De La Retorica Classica En La “Minerva” De Francisco Sanchez De Las Brozas

The aim of the present article is to clarify certain aspects pertaining to the interpretation of the grammatical theory of Francisco Sánchez de las Brozas. In particular, an attempt is made to explain the occurrence in his syntactic theory of certain elements of classical rhetoric: those referring to what is known as figured syntax. In the Minerva, the presence of constructional figures (ellipsis, zeugma, pleonasm, syllepsis and hyperbaton) signifies a drastic and rational reduction in respect to what was commonly to be found in the grammatical tradition de las Brozas inherited. The reduction is justified given his predominantly syntactic conception of grammar, one which leads him to consider only grammatical alterations of a propositional nature, viewed as deviations which must be explained by grammar. On the other hand, the very inclusion of such rhetorical figures in the sphere of grammar is justified for de las Brozas because, it is claimed, they are normal speech phenomena, not just confined to the art of rhetoric.