Uma análise discursivo-funcional dos processos referenciais encapsuladores em artigos de opinião

Abstract

This paper is a theoretical perspective of our masters’ degree research titled “The discursive functions of the referential encapsulation processes in opinion piece”. Here we propose a critical approach to the referential encapsulation processes, as well as to investigate the way these processes are used as a cohesive and multifunctional recourse, which is linked to the construction of the coherence in the opinion piece genre. For that, we consider the referentiation theory by Mondada and Dubois (2003). Based on a sociocognitive-discursive view, we define the approaches proposed by Francis (2003), Conte (2003) and Consten, Knees and Schwarz-Friesel (2007) to the referential encapsulation processes and we indicate the gaps in these works, which are guided by formal criteria in order to define these processes, its functions and its limits in the text. Thus, we expose how the referential encapsulation processes do not only condense a cotext portion, but also guarantee the informational flow, structure the text and contribute to the argumentation in a perspective that transcends a formal approach to referentiation.