A LIBRAS COMO LÍNGUA DE HERANÇA E A PROPOSTA DE RONICE MÜLLER DE QUADROS
A LIBRAS COMO LÍNGUA DE HERANÇA E A PROPOSTA DE RONICE MÜLLER DE QUADROS
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.816X222622051
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Palavras-chave: Libras, língua de herança, bilinguismo bimodal, privação linguística, sinalizantes de herança.
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Keywords: Brazilian Sign Language (Libras), heritage language, bimodal bilingualism, language deprivation, heritage signers.
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Abstract: This article discusses Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) as a heritage language based on the proposal developed by Ronice Müller de Quadros, taking as its central axis the relationship between bimodal bilingualism, language transmission, identity, and deprivation of access to language. The study starts from the observation that the concept of heritage language was historically formulated on the basis of minority oral languages, especially in family and migratory contexts, which makes its revision necessary when applied to sign languages. Based on qualitative and analytical bibliographic research, the paper examines convergences and divergences between oral heritage languages and the experience of Libras in the Brazilian context. The results indicate that Libras shares with other heritage languages its minority status in relation to a dominant language, the variability of proficiency, and the strong identity dimension associated with linguistic belonging. At the same time, it presents specificities that challenge traditional definitions, particularly due to its visual-spatial modality, the frequent absence of direct intergenerational transmission, and the decisive role played by the Deaf community and institutions in providing access to the language. The study concludes that Libras can be understood as a heritage language, provided that this concept is treated in a broader and historically sensitive way, capable of encompassing trajectories marked by discontinuity, community mediation, and linguistic inequality. The proposal analyzed contributes to expanding the theoretical debate on linguistic heritage and reinforces the need for policies that guarantee early and full access to sign language.
- Carla Figueiredo Cesar