The appositive comma is one that is used to separate appositive constructions. The latter are defined as the juxtaposition of two elements in nominal function, referring to the same extralinguistic entity.
These two elements form a unitary group, and no nexus or connector interposes between them. As a general rule, the comma is a graphic sign used to indicate a short pause. In the case of appositive coma, it is used in appositive phrases bimembres, or phonically split.
That is, it is used when, between the nouns that are in apposition, there is a pause, thus separating them into two intonative groups.
Use of appositive coma
The appositive comma, as explained above, is used to separate appositional phrases. These phrases are characterized by being correferents. That is, they refer to the same object or being of reality. In addition, they must fulfill the same syntactic function and be self-sufficient, while its omission does not affect the function performed in the sentence.
Now, the comma will only be used when it is a bimembre apposition. In these cases, the comma marks a brief pause that separates the phrases into two phonic or intonative groups.
The first two sentences of the examples below contain appositive bimembres constructions, hence the use of the appositive comma. The last two are single-member appositive constructions (in bold).
1-New York, the Big Apple, dresses up for the premiere of the famous saga.
2-40 years ago the King of Rock, Elvis Presley died.
3-He had never heard of his Uncle Sam.
4- Former President Barack Obama will participate in a summit organized by various NGOs.
Note that if the second appositive construction is not in the final position, a double comma is used, one preceding the phrase and the other succeeding it. If it is at the end of the sentence, the comma will be placed only in the posterior position.
Examples:
1-Her husband, the owner of the company, never had time available.
2-He always talked very pleasantly with Amelia, the one who sold flowers in the corner store.
Other examples of the use of appositive coma
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1-This is Gervasia, Manuelito's. This is Francisca, Andrés Ramón's,… After the shame of the greeting and the presentation, they sat on the benches, one next to the other, in the same order in which they had left the house, without finding what to do with your hands or where to put your eyes. The eldest, Genoveva, would not be more than seventeen years old; some were good-looking, curly complexions, shiny black eyes, and all meat solid and healthy-looking.
(Excerpt from the work Doña Bárbara by Rómulo Gallegos)
2 - That it is something that does not happen every day, because now what is common is dirty play. I have also had the honor of meeting misia Herminia, your holy mother.
-Santa is little, Don Manuel.
(Excerpt from the work Canaima by Rómulo Gallegos)
References
- Casteele, AV (s / f). The appositive constructions in the Spanish journalistic discourse. Recovered from cvc.cervantes.es.
- Fernández Fernández, A. (1993). The incidental function in Spanish: towards a new model of sentence scheme. Oviedo: University of Oviedo.
- Andino, ME (2007). Applied spelling. Tegucigalpa: Editorial Guaymuras.
- Martínez, H. (2005). Build well in Spanish: syntactic correction. Oviedo: University of Oviedo.
- Urrutia Cárdenas, H. and Álvarez, M. (2001). Historical morphosyntax scheme of Spanish. Bilbao: University of Deusto.