Revista de Estudos da Linguagem

23-64

Authors: Eunice Maria das Dores Nicolau

In this paper I discuss the characterization of Brazilian Portuguese (BP) in terms of the possibility of null subjects. Some recent analyses (TARALLO:1993b, DUARTE:1993/1995 and MENON:1994) have argued, on the basis of quantitative results, that BP has lost its prodrop character. But other variationist analyses (PAREDES DA SILVA:1988; NEGRÃO:1990; NICOLAU:1994; etc.) prove that BP can be characterized as presenting the possibility of null subjects. I show then that the proposal of linguistic change mentioned above cannot be maintained when faced with the Principles & Parameters model (cf. CHOMSKY:1981-1995). In other words, I show that the quantitative results of the variationist analyses cannot be considered as evidence of a parametric change or, more specifically, of the emergence of a new grammar.

87-102

Authors: James Duncan Hunter

Este trabalho examina a posição do Inglês como língua internacional em termos de forças políticas e econômicas que contribuíram para a posição dominante do inglês na arena mundial. O trabalho examina a acusação de que o ensino de inglês como segunda língua ou língua estrangeira contribui para o imperialismo lingüístico e cultural e desafia o pressuposto de que os falantes nativos de inglês são necessariamente os melhores professores. Recomenda- se aos profissionais de língua inglesa a adoção de uma filosofia de relativismo pragmático na sua avaliação das necessidades do aprendiz de forma a evitar tendências etnocêntricas em seus currículos.

127-158

Authors: Daniel Alvarenga; Marco Antonio de Oliveira

In this paper we examine the influence of the syllable structure of spoken Portuguese on the acquisition of written forms. Our main hypothesis is that spoken language offers a first model for the construction of written forms and so, by identifying the syllabic coda as a point of instability in spoken Portuguese, since it is subject to many phonological processes, we may predict that students will also present writing variations exactly at these same points. Our investigation takes into account structural as well as non-structural factors and we conclude that there is a strong correlation between instability in the syllabic coda and variation in their weitten representation.

193-208

Authors: Cleudemar Alves Fernandes

We consider that the subject results from a complex frame-work: there is a “self” which is the result of “other selves”. In that sense we developed in this study a discourse analysis of the protagonist of the novel O Coronel e o Lobisomem giving attention to the linguistic aspects that mark the subjectivity presence in the discourse and to the aspects that mark the exterior presence in the discourse.