question on a sentence using separable prefix "auf"

[edmont]

In diesem Kontext drängen sich die Argumente, blitzt die Bildhaftigkeit der Sprache, die sich bis zur polemischen Spitze steigert, besonders eindringlich auf.


Does the separable prefix "auf" at the end of the above sentence simultaneously refer back to all three verbs, drängen, blitz, and steigert?  (My guess: it refers back only to drängen and blitz, not to steigert.) 

Thank you for any assistance. 

[Duckduck (Contributor)]

In diesem Kontext drängen sich die Argumente, blitzt die Bildhaftigkeit der Sprache, die sich bis zur polemischen Spitze steigert, besonders eindringlich auf.


Does the separable prefix "auf" at the end of the above sentence simultaneously refer back to all three verbs, drängen, blitz, and steigert?  (My guess: it refers back only to drängen and blitz, not to steigert.) 

Thank you for any assistance. 

And right you are, edmont.

We have "aufblitzen" and "aufdrängen" but not "aufsteigern" in German. And what's more, the predicate in the relative cause (which refers to "Bildhaftigkeit der Sprache") doesn't belong to the main clause.

Have a nice weekend!

Duckduck

[edmont]

Duckduck, thank you for the explanation!

I thought the predicate referred back to "Sprache," not "Bildhaftigkeit der Sprache."

Thus I got

In this context the arguments come to the fore in an especially forceful way and pictorial expressions flash strongly in the language, which rises to a polemical peak.

In diesem Kontext drängen sich die Argumente, blitzt die Bildhaftigkeit der Sprache, die sich bis zur polemischen Spitze steigert, besonders eindringlich auf.

Could the "pictoriality of the language" [Bildhaftigkeit der Sprache] rise to a polemical peak?  I guess it could.  But could it be that the writer was referring mainly or only to Sprache, not to the Bildhaftigkeit der Sprache?

You have a great weekend too, Duckduck!

[tiorthan]

 But could it be that the writer was referring mainly or only to Sprache, not to the Bildhaftigkeit der Sprache?

That's how I read it.

[edmont]

Thank you, tiorthan!