As línguas wapichana, macuxi, português, inglês, creolese e espanhol nos cenários sciolinguísticos fronteiriços do Brasil com a República Cooperativa da Guiana
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2019-09-16
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Universidade Federal de Goiás
Resumo
This qualitative ethnographic study investigates the multilingual setting of the urban area of the
cities of Bonfim and Lethem, both located on the border line between Brazil and the Cooperative
Republic of Guyana. Based on the reports of research participants, the analysis focuses on the uses
and discourses concerning the local languages – Wapishan, Makuxi, Creolese, Portuguese, English
and Spanish – to shed light on how colonial difference operates in the region through the
linguistics practices and the speeches about these languages. The theoretical framework is that of
sociolinguistics studies which deal with multilingualism (GARRETT, 2007; GROSJEAN, 1982,
2010; ROMAINE, 2006a, 2006b) and complex multilingual settings (BLOMMAERT, 2010, 2012,
2014). Moreover, the perspective of decolonial studies, spearheaded by Latin American scholars
Dussel (1994), Mignolo (2003, 2009) and Quijano (1992, 2005), was useful in addressing issues
surrounding the languages and linguistics practices adopted in the region. The methodology
follows the theoretical and methodological premises of ethnography proposed by Blommaert
(2012, 2014), Blommaert and Dong (2010) and Rees and Mello (2011). Data was collected through
interviews, questionnaires and field notes, and gathered from the physical and social world (e.g.
from news, street signs, posters, and urban organization features, among others). Results suggest
that, despite high levels of multilingualism among the local population, Portuguese stands as the
hegemonic language in the region, supported by colonial and modern discourses and by usage
practices in the educational, administrative and public sectors. Geographic spaces also play a
central role in determining language uses on both sides of the border, with Portuguese prevailing in
Bonfim and English and Portuguese in Lethem. Creolese, spoken by the majority of the Guyanese,
is marked by ambivalent discourses, being viewed as a language not only of discrimination but also
of identity and resistance to British colonialism and its legacy. Indigenous languages Wapishan and
Makuxi, widespread across the triple border between Brazil, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana
and Venezuela, are limited to indigenous communities and to the family sphere. However, efforts
to maintain and value these languages now challenge the hegemony of language unity, grounded
on imperial languages (Portuguese and English) and on the knowledge and power they convey.Spanish reaches the region of Bonfim and Lethem as a result of displacements by the Wapishan
and Makuxi people from Venezuela, and enjoys the prestige awarded to national and official
languages.
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PRUDENTE, M. P. As línguas wapichana, macuxi, português, inglês, creolese e espanhol nos cenários sciolinguísticos fronteiriços do Brasil com a República Cooperativa da Guiana. 2019. 113 f. Tese (Doutorado em Letras e Linguística) - Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, 2019.