Análise de um dicionário português-tupi de 1771 por meio da historiografia linguística

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze the microstructure of a Portuguese-Tupi dictionary produced in the Pombaline period (1771). We intend to describe what types of information are contained in the entries (variation, grammatical information, etc.) and how they are recorded. Another important point will be to compare, from the choice of certain letters, the microstructure of this dictionary with that of previous lexicographical works belonging to the Jesuit period. With this, we will verify which types it registers and Tupi elo employed, that is, if the 1771 dictionary follows or not the variety used in printed grammars (Anchieta, 1595; Figueira, 1687). This comparison will also indicate whether, after the expulsion of the Jesuits, there was any change in the lexicographic techniques traditionally employed in this kind of work. The dictionaries to be compared were written in the Amazon region throughout the 18th century. The dictionary he 1771, focus of our analysis, is entitled Dicionário da língua geral do Brasil que se [alta em todas as vilas, lugares e aldeas deste vastíssimo Estado (Biblioteca da Universidade de Coimbra/ Ms 81). The other works used are: O Caderno da Língua (Ayrosa, 1937), Chrestomaibia da língua brazilica (França, 1859), Prosodia (Academia de Ciências ele Lisboa, s. d.), Diccionario da língua geral do Brazil (Biblioteca da Universidade de Coímbra, Ms 69). As for the description of the entries, we will rely on the work of José Horta Nunes (1996) on the microstructure of a 17th century Portuguese-Tupi dictionary. In general, the 1771 dictionary presents a poorer microstructure than the Jesuit works. This dictionary basically includes the translation of Portuguese terms into Tupi, adding little or no grammatical information. Regarding the register of Tupi used, it was observed that the work in question is quite conservative, as it uses an older variety of this language, very close to the one found in the grammars of José de Anchieta and Luís Figueira. From the microstructure point of view, the technique of making dictionaries changed between the Jesuit and Pombaline periods. On the other hand, the Jesuits continued to be the reference for certain linguistic choices in Tupí, as in the case of the 1771 dictionary.