Phonological and lexical variation of professional signs in the Libras Inventory of Rio Branco, Acre

Abstract

This study analyzes the phonological and lexical variations in the Brazilian Sign Language, using signs of the professions "Dentist" and "Teacher" found in the Libras Inventory of Rio Branco, Acre. Based on the research of Fernandes and Strobel (1998); Quadros and Karnnop (2004); Quadros (2019); Xavier (2006); Xavier and Barbosa (2017); Xavier (2019); Quadros e Sousa (2021); Araújo et al. (2022); Sousa et al. (2023); Sousa and Garcia (2023) and Fischer and Xavier (2024) who deal with the phonology and phonetics of Libras. Methodologically, the study included six signers categorized by age group and gender in a database, collected by visual stimuli, followed by transcription and detailed analysis of the productions in SignWriting. The results show variations in hand movements and configurations and in the direction of movements. In the "Teacher" sign, the variations were concentrated in the bidirectionality of the movements. The study contributes to the recording of regional variants in Acre, promoting greater understanding of linguistic productions in deaf communities. By reflecting on the interactions between social and linguistic factors, this research reinforces the relevance of the topic for future studies on phonological and lexical diversity in Libras.