A teoria gestual das origens da linguagem

Autores

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5007/1984-8412.2022.e83790

Palavras-chave:

Teoria gestual, Origem da linguagem, Língua de sinais

Resumo

A ideia de um gesto visual icônico ter algo em comum com a origem da linguagem, particularmente da fala, é frequente em especulações sobre esse fenômeno e emerge no início de sua história. A hipótese de Sócrates sobre a origem das palavras gregas no satírico diálogo de Platão, Crátilo, inclui um possível papel para a iconicidade baseada no som, assim como também para os gestos visuais usados por surdos. A sátira de Platão para abordar esse tópico também aponta para a linha tênue entre o sublime e o ridículo que marcam esse tipo de especulação. Este artigo apresenta evidências recentes que sustentam a ideia de que a linguagem surgiu primeiro como gesto visual. Essas evidências são obtidas de diversas investigações, incluindo pesquisas em fundamentos neurológicos do gesto, ou seja, sobre neurônios-espelho; pesquisas recentes sobre a comunicação gestual em grandes símios africanos; sobre a base cognitiva das línguas de sinais de surdos; e sobre a emergência de novas línguas sinalizadas.

Biografia do Autor

David F. Armstrong, Gallaudet University (GU)

Antropólogo, professor emérito da Gallaudet University (GU).

Pedro Henrique Witchs, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes)

Doutor e mestre em Educação pela Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos); graduado em Ciências Biológicas pela mesma instituição. É professor do Departamento de Línguas e Letras e do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Linguística da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes).

Maria Vitória Witchs, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos)

Graduada em Letras-Português/Inglês pela Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos).

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2022-05-19

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