Língua-franca ou "inglês-brasileiro"? Reflexões sobre oensinoe a aprendizagem de língua inglesa no Brasil
In: Revista Desafios, Volume 4, Issue 3, p. 31-42
This article aims on reflecting on the teaching process of the English language in Brazil starting from a perspective that contemplates the sociocultural factors and also the linguistic factors that might influence the learning of a foreign language. Weinreich, Labov and Herzog (2006 [1968]) see any linguistic changes as the result of a process of linguistic fit between variables internal to the linguistic system and those external to it (i.e. socioeconomic factors). Issues such as the Brazilian basic education system, proficiency evaluation, use of English with other speakers, and literacy issues can be considered as extralinguistic factors (external to the language, but which exert influence in it) that along with linguistic system factors, such as Interlanguage, can lead Brazilian speakers to develop a "Brazilian English" (in comparison toterms known as "British English" or "American English"), or to use this language as "lingua franca", to ensure that the purpose of any message is passed on.