ENTRE AS LÍNGUAS E O FAZER LINGUÍSTICO

APROXIMAÇÕES INICIAIS ENTRE BENVENISTE E OS ESTUDOS DECOLONIAIS

Abstract

This article aims to show that it is possible to advance a decolonial reading of Émile Benveniste’s language theory. For this purpose, we present an overview of studies on decoloniality based mainly on Severo’s (2016, 2017) and Mignolo’s propositions (2017, 2021). Based on these authors, we seek to propose possible paths for advancing a decolonial reading in linguistics. In addition, we adopt the notion of decolonial efforts (ANDREOTTI et al., 2015) as a reading key of benvenistian postures. Furthermore, we approach traces of Benveniste’s work that allow approximations with decoloniality. Finally, we propose a reading exercise of the article Categories of thought and categories of language (1958) to demonstrate how decolonial efforts manifest in his analysis, especially concerning the relationship between the linguistic universal and particular. This research itinerary leads us to conclude that decoloniality is one of the questions posed to linguists of the present time and, as such, it offers itself as an opportunity to renew the readings hitherto made of the benvenistian writings.