Sliding direction and control through interpretive nominalization in case of an Brazilian oral narrative

Abstract

Based on Discourse Analysis theory, and using the analysis of an oral narrative produced by an illiterate woman, our aim is to evidence the ways discursive memory uses to support sites of meanings that the subject uses in order to deal with the constant sliding of senses. We will focus our remarks specifically on “naming” (designation), a linguistic device where the interpellation by ideology is especially evident. This mechanism of naming causes a process of naturalization of meanings, so that it seems impossible to the subject to select other – alternative - forms, and also interferes in the process of narrative production. The narrative chosen is named “Piqueno Piqueninho”, which shows points of signification similar to “Little Poucet” collected by Perrault. The analysis shows that the process of naming maintains the subject in certain places of saying, clearly supporting some gestures of interpretation, but, at the same time, separates the subject from other possible places of interpretation, revealing a contradiction between alienation and separation, wherein the control of interpretation is guaranteed by an unity effect.