José Luiz Fiorin fala da polêmica sobre o livro didático "Por uma Vida Melhor"

Summary

In this discussion, linguist José Luiz Feurim defends a book distributed by the Ministry of Education, which has been criticized for allegedly promoting errors in the Portuguese language. He emphasizes that the book aims to teach students how to transition from regional dialects to standard language, without ridiculing their native speech. Feurim explains that linguistic variation is natural and necessary, but the standard language must be taught for specific contexts like academic and journalistic writing. He clarifies the concept of linguistic prejudice and the role of linguistics in understanding language evolution and variation, debunking misconceptions about language teaching.

Takeaways

• 😀 Linguist José Luiz Feurim defends that the book distributed by the Ministry of Education does not promote language errors but rather teaches how to transition from non-standard to standard language.
• 😀 The book’s goal is to help students understand their spoken language and how to apply the standard language in appropriate contexts, without ridiculing the way they speak.
• 😀 Feurim emphasizes that ridiculing a student's natural language is an attack on their identity and should not be done in educational settings.
• 😀 Teaching the standard language should start from the student's own spoken language, allowing them to see it as an extension of their identity rather than something separate.
• 😀 Certain text types, like journalistic and academic speech, must use the standard language, but literature can incorporate regional and social varieties to enrich the narrative.
• 😀 Linguistic prejudice refers to intolerant attitudes towards non-standard varieties of language, often involving ridicule of regional dialects or social speech variations.
• 😀 Language is inherently variable, and no variety of language is 'wrong'—it simply fits different social, regional, or generational contexts.
• 😀 Linguists do not judge language as right or wrong; they aim to explain and describe linguistic variation scientifically, without imposing prescriptive rules like traditional grammar.
• 😀 Popular speech follows strict internal rules, even if they differ from the standard language, and it’s a mistake to think of it as chaotic or without structure.
• 😀 There is a misconception that linguists and grammarians are in opposition. In reality, most modern grammarians are also linguists who advocate for teaching the standard language while respecting linguistic diversity.
• 😀 Linguists view language as evolving over time, with changes accepted in a variety of contexts, such as how the verb 'to date' has shifted in meaning over time in Portuguese.

Q & A

What is the main point of the book distributed by the Ministry of Education?

The book, titled 'For a Better Life,' emphasizes that oral language does not necessarily need to adhere to the standards of formal language, depending on the context in which it is used.

What is linguist José Luiz Feurim's opinion on the book's content?

Feurim argues that the book does not teach incorrect language but aims to help students rewrite non-standard language into standard language, which is an essential educational task.

Why is it important not to ridicule the language students speak at home?

Ridiculing the language a student speaks would be akin to ridiculing their identity, which is harmful and counterproductive to the learning process.

What is the educational approach Feurim advocates regarding language teaching?

Feurim advocates for starting from the language students already use, helping them understand it, and then teaching them the standard language as a separate, contextual form of communication.

How does literature relate to language variation, according to Feurim?

Feurim explains that literature incorporates various regional and social language varieties. For example, poets like Jo Bananei use non-standard dialects to reflect the characters' identities and regional backgrounds.

What is linguistic prejudice and how does it manifest in language use?

Linguistic prejudice refers to intolerance towards certain varieties of language, often ridiculing regional or social dialects. This prejudice diminishes the value of diverse linguistic expressions.

How does Feurim describe the role of linguistic variation in communication?

Feurim emphasizes that linguistic variation is natural and necessary for communication. Different varieties of language are suited for different contexts, such as formal or informal situations, regional speech, or generational differences.

Why does Feurim say the book has been misunderstood by critics?

Feurim believes that critics have misunderstood the book's purpose, interpreting it as a dismissal of standard language teaching, whereas it simply aims to help students transition from non-standard to standard language in appropriate contexts.

What is the difference between linguistics and grammar, according to Feurim?

Grammar is prescriptive and establishes rules about what is 'correct' or 'incorrect' language use. Linguistics, on the other hand, is descriptive, seeking to explain and understand how language functions and evolves over time, without labeling it as right or wrong.

How does language evolve, according to Feurim's explanation of linguistic change?

Language evolves through natural processes, such as the loss of certain grammatical markers over time. For example, English lost person markers, and this shift led to the obligatory use of pronouns in sentences like 'I like' rather than simply 'like.'