Perceptual dialectology The view from Amazonian Brazil (original) (raw)

Reinterpreting Dialectological Void in North of Brazil

Signum: Estudos da Linguagem, 2018

In the present article, we intend to present reflections on questions that are not easily answered when applying the Phonetic-Phonological Questionnaire (QFF) and the Semantic-Lexical Questionnaire (QSL). These questionnaires integrate the methodology of the Brazilian Linguistic Atlas Project (ALiB), a dialectological orientation project that aims to describe and map the variation and linguistic diversity of Brazilian Portuguese. We will focus specifically on the selection and analysis of questions used to collect data whose use presents difficulty when collecting. We limit ourselves to the presentation, reflection and discussion of questions 32 and 41 of the questionnaire applied by the ALiB. Question 32 integrates the QFF and aims to obtain the 'abóbora' (pumpkin) form. Question 41 is already part of the QSL and has as one of the expected variants 'camomila' (chamomile). The main hypothesis in the explanation of the facts is that there is pressure from social facto...

Para o conhecimento das línguas da Amazônia

Mana-estudos De Antropologia Social, 2004

The book Amazonian Languages, compiled by R. M. W. Dixon and A. Y. Aikhenvald, published in 1999, is already a reference work ­ indeed, practically compulsory reading for anyone interested in linguistics, the indigenous languages of Amazonia and the ethnology of lowlands South America. Nonetheless, the book contains sections and themes that have provoked strong reactions in the scientific community both inside and outside Brazil. This essay presents not only the book's undoubted contributions towards advancing our knowledge of Amazonian languages, but also the criticisms justifiably levelled at some of its chapters, caused by empirical and theoretical limitations, as well as others concerning the book's introduction and its provocative opinions regarding specific research policies in South America. The introduction to the book opposes categories (national versus foreign linguists), plays verbal sophistry with identities (missionary linguists and linguistic missionaries) and paints a contestable and erroneous picture of what it means to research and study indigenous languages, 'Amazonian' or otherwise.

Sugerencias metodológicas para realizar trabajo de campo lingüístico en la Amazonía

Lexis Revista De Linguistica Y Literatura, 2008

En el presente artículo, propongo una metodología y ofrezco algunas recomendaciones de carácter práctico para realizar trabajo descriptivo con lenguas poco estudiadas, a partir de mi propia experiencia de campo en la Amazonía occidental. Los temas desarrollados aquí incluyen la evaluación y uso de la literatura lingüística disponible, la preparación para la permanencia en el campo, el trato con los hablantes de la lengua en cuestión, las técnicas de recolección de datos y la escritura del trabajo descriptivo. El énfasis del artículo se centra en la búsqueda de estrategias para que la recolección de materiales sea lo más objetiva y rigurosa posible y para que las descripciones sean más responsables y confiables.

Different histories, different results: the origin and development of two Amazonian languages

2011

Tupinambá, a member of branch III of the Tupi-Guarani linguistic family of the Tupi linguistic stock (Rodrigues 1984/ 1985) is-in so far as it is known-the only Brazilian indigenous language that has had an important role in the development of two Amazonian languages, namely Kokáma/ Omágua and Amazonian Língua Geral or Nheengatú. These are two languages that originated in contact situations and, even though having Tupinambá in common as a source language, have become typologically different in several aspects due to the peculiarities of the social histories of their speakers. With regard to Kokáma/Omágua, there are three concurring hypotheses on its origin: (a) it is simply another language of the Tupi-Guarani genetic family, (b) it is a descendant of the Amazonian Língua Geral, or (c) it developed from contact between speakers of Tupinambá and speakers of other languages, including an Arawakan one, and is not the continuity of any particular language. With regard to the Amazonian Língua Geral, some scholars treat it as a creole language, but to others it is a continuation of Tupinambá spoken outside the indigenous villages, subjected to external influences over the course of time. In this paper I present arguments in favor of the different development possibilities of both Kokáma/Omágua and Amazonian Língua Geral, taking into account aspects of 1 I am thankful to Gabriel Antunes de Araujo and Margarida Petter for having invited me to present a paper on Amazonian languages and linguistic contact at the 5 th ABECS meeting, as well as to Prof. Aryon D. Rodrigues for his criticism and suggestions, which was particularly important for me since he is the most well versed scholar of the linguistic history of the Tupi stock of languages. ANA SUELLY ARRUDA CÂMARA CABRAL 10 the social history of the respective speakers, as well as lexical and grammatical features of each of the two languages.