O conhecimento sobre o léxico como manifestação da maranhensidade: uma investigação sobre língua e identidade

Abstract

This study investigates the level of recognition of Maranhês expressions among adolescent students enrolled in high school at a private institution in São Luís, Maranhão. It also aims to analyze the presence of these expressions in the participants‘ linguistic repertoire. The theoretical and methodological foundations of this research are grounded in Sociolinguistics, based on the studies of renowned scholars such as Labov (2008) and Tarallo (1996). Dialectology and Lexicology also permeate the discussions presented here, particularly drawing on Cardoso, Mota and Mollica (2014) and Biderman (2001).The research is quantitative in nature, with qualitative data analysis, and was conducted through a questionnaire administered via Google Forms to 60 students, mostly aged between 15 and 17 years. The results show that a significant number of participants have internalized a reasonable level of Maranhês, as 44.5% of the expressions presented were recognized. However, this contrasts with a low percentage of effective use of this linguistic variety (9.6%), revealing a discrepancy between receptive and productive competence and suggesting the possibility of an ongoing process of language shift. The analysis of the data leads to the conclusion that knowledge of Maranhês, although reduced — mainly due to the effects of globalization — remains present in the participants‘ linguistic memory. However, its effective use has declined, indicating a weakening of its vitality as a social practice.