Slavia Orthodoxa: Literatura i iazyk

Rhythmical and Thematic Structures in the Croatian Church Slavic Life of Saint Wenceslaus

“…Given the flexibility of interpreting the isocolic rhythms of any given text, it is possible to suggest a simpler set of series here; this flexibility in no way undermines the rhythmical flow of the passages and certainly does not undermine the lector's ability to interpret the reading aloud within the parameters given him, that is, within the restrictions of 4-and 5-stress cola. Rhythmically, this interpretation relies on the graphic representation of the text, thus assuming that the 'white spacing' helps indicate the rhythmical patterning (CRNKOVIĆ 2006;CRNKOVIĆ 2008;CRNKOVIĆ 2011). Given this, it is possible to assign only a single stress to the word units isamьgь and ishь receive in their respective phrases.…”

“…13 Although this use of the white space is not always clear, it nonetheless plays quite a useful role in determining the isocolic patterns. In fact, as I have shown elsewhere, by paying attention to any number of graphic markers the reader/lector could be guided in his interpretation of how to most effectively present the oral text in order to convey its message(s) (CRNKOVIĆ 2006;CRNKOVIĆ 2008). In the ecclesiastical environment in which these texts were usually presented orally either to the congregation of lay faithful or, more often, to the community of monks, friars and clerics, maintaining the orthodoxy of the message was of paramount concern.…”