Entre um Café, uma Prosa com Marcos Bagno

Summary

In this interview, linguist Marcos Bagno discusses the myths surrounding the Portuguese language and the prevalence of linguistic prejudice, particularly in Brazil. He highlights the importance of schools teaching both standard written language and acknowledging regional dialects. Bagno also reflects on the role of technology in language evolution and addresses the challenges and advances in language education. He points out the lack of government support for promoting Brazilian Portuguese internationally, contrasting it with Portugal's efforts. Lastly, he shares his personal experience as a writer, focusing on poetry and children's literature alongside his linguistic work.

Takeaways

• 😀 Marcos Bagno is a linguist, translator, and writer with a PhD in Portuguese language from the University of São Paulo.
• 😀 He has translated numerous literary and scientific works by authors such as Voltaire and Sartre and has published around 30 works in the fields of children's literature, sociolinguistics, and poetry.
• 😀 One of his most important works is 'Preconceito Linguístico' (Linguistic Prejudice), which discusses common myths about the Portuguese language.
• 😀 Bagno emphasizes that many myths about the Portuguese language, such as the idea that only the Portuguese speak 'correct' Portuguese, are unfounded and used to perpetuate linguistic prejudice.
• 😀 He stresses that the role of schools is to teach what students do not already know, particularly helping them learn the 'standard' or formal varieties of language for written communication.
• 😀 As a philologist, Bagno highlights the importance of studying ancient texts to understand linguistic changes over time and the preservation of language.
• 😀 Bagno encourages the use of technology and the internet for reading and writing, noting that these platforms have increased access to language learning, though they may lead to shorter attention spans.
• 😀 On the topic of social media, Bagno believes that abbreviations and new forms of writing are not harmful as long as students are aware of when to use formal language in academic contexts.
• 😀 He points out that while Brazilian Portuguese is becoming more popular abroad, there has been a lack of government investment in promoting Brazilian Portuguese internationally, compared to Portugal's extensive efforts to promote Portuguese.
• 😀 Finally, Bagno reflects on how his work in linguistics and sociolinguistics has influenced his poetry and literary career, despite being more widely recognized as a linguist than as a poet.

Q & A

What are the main myths about the Portuguese language discussed by Marcos Bagno?

Marcos Bagno discusses several myths about the Portuguese language, including the idea that Brazilians cannot speak Portuguese properly and that only the Portuguese from Portugal is the 'correct' form of the language. These myths are often used to perpetuate linguistic prejudice and marginalize non-standard language forms.

How does Bagno suggest teachers should approach students who speak or write differently from the standard language?

Bagno suggests that teachers should recognize the linguistic variety students bring to the classroom and assess their language use through a sociolinguistic diagnosis. The goal is not to judge but to help students acquire the standard written form of the language, which is crucial for their academic and professional lives.

What is the role of schools in teaching language, according to Marcos Bagno?

Bagno believes the role of schools is to introduce students to the written standard of the language. While students are already proficient in their spoken language, schools need to teach them the standardized forms, especially for writing, which is essential for their participation in a literate society.

How does the use of technology affect language learning and reading habits, as discussed in the interview?

Bagno acknowledges that technology, especially the internet, has changed how people read and write, often leading to shorter, more abbreviated forms of communication. However, he sees this as an opportunity, arguing that people are reading and writing more than ever, though it is important to also encourage the reading of longer texts, such as books.

What does Bagno think about the role of social media language and its impact on formal language skills?

Bagno believes that the abbreviated language used on social media is not harmful, as long as students understand the context and when to use informal language versus formal language. He sees these new forms as part of a natural evolution of communication but stresses the importance of maintaining formal writing skills for academic and professional settings.

What is the current state of Brazilian Portuguese as a global language, according to Bagno?

Bagno points out that while Brazilian Portuguese is gaining interest globally, there is little support from the Brazilian government to promote it internationally. This contrasts with countries like Portugal, which invest significantly in promoting their language abroad. Brazil has few resources dedicated to spreading Brazilian Portuguese in foreign countries.

How does Bagno describe the differences between the teaching of Portuguese in Brazil and Portugal?

Bagno highlights that Portugal invests much more in the international promotion of its language, including sending teachers abroad and supporting language education. In contrast, Brazil provides little support for the teaching of Brazilian Portuguese overseas, resulting in fewer resources and opportunities for students to learn the language abroad.

What are the main challenges in teaching and learning Portuguese in Brazil?

One of the main challenges in Brazil is the lack of sufficient investment in education, including low teacher salaries, inadequate working conditions, and insufficient preparation time for teachers. Despite progress in the theoretical framework for teaching, these issues hinder the effective implementation of these ideas in classrooms.

How does Bagno view the impact of language myths on Brazilian society?

Bagno views language myths as a tool for social discrimination, where non-standard forms of language are devalued, leading to prejudices. These myths create a false hierarchy of language forms and perpetuate the marginalization of individuals who speak in ways considered outside the norm.

What does Marcos Bagno think about the future of language education in Brazil?

Bagno believes that language education in Brazil has made significant strides, especially with the incorporation of linguistics into educational theories. However, he emphasizes the need for continued improvement, particularly in providing better working conditions for teachers and increasing government investment in education to address the systemic challenges.