Variation and linguistic change: an analysis of semantic expansion of loanwords in brazilian portuguese

Abstract

This article examines the use of loanwords in Brazilian Portuguese from the perspective of the Theory of Linguistic Variation and Change. It aims to make explicit implementation processes of language change through the use of foreign words, by contemplating their occurrences, under their original spelling, and with semantic expansion. It is based on Lexicology and labovian theoretical assumptions. Regarding its methodology, it raises foreign terms with semantic expansion present in Época, Veja and Isto É magazines. It discusses the data and argues about linguistic change. It also concludes that semantic expansion is one way to validate a final implementation stage of linguistic change.