Os processos de referência e suas funções discursivas: o universo literário dos contos

Abstract

Most works concerning referential processes try to bind formal aspects to their functions. Others are interested in specific phenomena, such as (re)categorization or encapsulation or the role of specific lexical itens. Due to that, many explanations and functions fail to be revealed. Our goal is to set criteria, providing a broader notion of the referential processes, which could reveal new functions as well as allow the consideration of the mutable features of the referential construction. As a consequence, it could bear frequent adjustements and amendments, according to the observation of diverse situations. In this research, anaphora, deixis and introduction of referents are considered as variable functions and non excludent proceedings, which are completed during the discourse activities. Based on studies, such as Apothéloz (1995a), Apothéloz and Reichler-Béguelin (1999), Authier-Revuz (2001), Cavalcante (2006), Koch (2004) and Maingueneau (2007), a review about functions performed by referential processes is presented, as well as many others are included. The result is a flexible list of general functions, which can be added by other general functions and are open to new specifications. The suggested functions are 1) organization of parts of text, 2) metadiscourse activities, 3) introduction of new information, 4) triggering of a memory search, 5) promotion of aesthetic/stylistic effects, and 6) establishment of a mark of discourse heterogeneity. The main conclusions include the fact that functions occur mostly overlapped, i.e., referential processes play multiple roles simultaneously. Some other relations between processes and functions were outlined, such as: anaphoric referential process are often related to a) introduction of new information, operating a transformation of an already referred object or introducing a new one and b) organization of topics, most of time associated to explicit a point of view, specially when represented by a metadiscourse label; deictic process often develop the functions of a) instruction for the recovering of a referent, many times activating a memory search and b) establishment of a mark of discourse heterogeneity, most of time strenghtening the collaboration relationship between speakers; the introduction of referents can at the same time forge the activation of shared knowledge. A set of thirty Brazilian short stories provides the investigation with practical examples and reveals some specific functions.