A relação fonológica entre quatro línguas de sinais: uma proposta de análise comparativa

Abstract

This thesis has as its theme the linguistic description studies of Libras, more specifically in the field of phonetic-phonological studies. It sought, therefore, to focus, firstly, on studies carried out on the Sign Languages of France (LSF) and the United States (ASL) – languages that maintain a certain “kinship” relationship with the Brazilian Sign Language (Libras). It was found that the research carried out, especially in these two countries, can bring more relevant contributions to the linguistic studies of Libras. It was also proposed to investigate the research carried out on Portuguese Sign Language (LGP), since there is a linguistic relationship (in relation to bilingualism) that affects the two deaf communities: the Portuguese language in the written modality is considered the second language of the deaf in both countries. The main objective is to relate the way to describe the phonology of Sign Languages in the four countries in order to analyze, from comparisons, what needs to be changed in the teaching of phonology at Libras. The title of this thesis was defined based on the question of how the phonology of Sign Languages is taught in undergraduate courses in the aforementioned countries. In terms of methodological procedures, bibliographic research was used, with indirect documentation as the main data collection technique (with searches in institutional archives). This investigation brought great contributions to our research, because, amidst the comparisons, it was possible to verify the gap in the phonological studies of Libras today. Two hypotheses were raised: the first concerns the need to deconstruct a concept in order to build a more enlightened one, without prejudice to the literature in the area; the second refers to undergraduate courses in Literature-Libras, which have the Phonology discipline in their curriculum, from which a question was imposed: do they bring actual knowledge or are they mere fillers of workloads in educational institutions? It was observed that phonological studies in the curricula of Literature-Libras courses need to be revised in terms of outdated content and workload, as the basis for use and for the Libras teaching is also included in the parameters that make up this discipline in the academic curriculum in the Letras-Libras courses, mainly