CONTEMPLATION ON COMMA

Abstract

One of the most interesting punctuation mark is comma. Following the rules of its use, one can arrive at an option about the presence of punctuation principles - structural, semantic and rhythmic-melodyous ones in specific standard ortography. In Croatian ortographic books from 1892-1994 there are significant changes in favour of semantic punctuation. Based upon a selected corpus it is obvious that punctuation rules conformed to regulations. The reason for this may be found: in the fact that interpunction is never based exclusively upon on principle, so that its changes in standard didn't question someone's literary and in "logicality" of semantic ("loose") punctuation and its relationship with rhythmic-melodical one. During the 90's of this century one can speak of relative stability of this part of Croatian punctuation standard.