Portuguese language teaching - new parameters, new paradigms. A new reality?

Abstract

Since the second half of the century, the language studies have gone through a paradigm shift. Text and discourse studies dominate the scene in research and linguistic works. It is easy to see the full command of the new approach through a simple analysis of publications and programs of scientific events in the area. In their various manifestations, enunciations have been the focus of main discussions at this end of century. Among the "linguistic disciplines" one may find the semiotic theories, especially those derived from the findings of Gréimas, and the 'analysis of discourse' being among us the most developed from the French line and based on Pêcheux. Between scholars of language, a division has been made: a line of the so-called "linguists", who still think that the linguistic studies are those dedicated to the analysis and description of the system. And, among these, there is a serious question: are the text and the speech a part of the linguistic science? On the other hand, there are the "discourse analysts" for whom the language studies only reach their objectives, their scope, when considered from the perspective of discourse. The discoveries and advances in discourse studies, unfortunately, are restricted to the academy, still not reaching those who work with the teaching of language.