Gírias na língua de sinais brasileira: processos de criação e contextos de uso

Abstract

This research is a qualitative study, with ethnographic characteristics, about the process of creation and use of slang in a group of deaf people. The group is composed of five participants, in the city of Palmas - State of Tocantins, who interact in a specific environment on the social network WhatsApp, entitled “Surdos tocantinenses gírias mala”. In this dissertation, we describe the profile of the participants, the rules for maintaining the group, the data survey of nineteen slang words and the process of creating these signs. For this, the researcher-participant observes and participates in group interactions, and interviews the participants individually. A framework presents slangs that involves (i) presentation of the sign, with photo, video and sign writing, (ii) description of the sign, (iii) meaning, (iv) context of use, (v) example of statement, with link to access the video, (vi) the researcher and (vii) reviewer. We are based on deaf culture as a practice of resistance from the relations of knowledge and power arising from the audism perspective (PERLIN, 2003; 2005) and slang as a practice of language of resistance, opposition and protection (PRETTI, 1984; 2000a; 2000b; 2013; MURATA, 2008). In the group, the exchange of information takes place in Libras (video) and there is no participation of hearing people (an explicit rule of the group). According to the participants, slang appears as a form of (i) entertainment and humor, in an environment in which they are at ease in relation to the language and themes covered, (ii) resistance, in opposition to the negative experiences facing the majority society and (iii) protection and secrecy, in front of signing hearing people and other deaf people, members of the deaf community. The categorization of slangs can be presented as follows: (i) unpublished signs, (ii) signs with modified parameters (handshape) to express intensity, (iii) signs with modified parameters (palm orientation) to indicate irony and (iv) signs with modified parameters (location) to highlight the gestural-visual modality of sign languages. The process of creating slang signs, in the case of unpublished signs, involves the lexicalization of gestural actions that, in general, runs through the systematic use of semilexical structures, giving rise to highly iconic signs. Another process of creating slang signs involves changing sub-lexical units, characterizing the parameters as phonomorphic. We emphasize the need to register slangs in Libras, coming from Brazilian deaf communities, for the implementation of language policies involving sign languages.