Estudos do léxico da Libras: realização dos processos flexionais na fala do surdo

Considering the vast field of investigation of the linguistic aspects of Libras, we identified in the possibility of describing the inflectional processes that are present in the spontaneous speech of the deaf person, the opportunity to contribute to the studies in the area for the enhancement of the diffusion and continuity of Libras in linguistics and history, describing, documenting and recording their linguistic phenomena. As such, this study had as general purpose to analyze and describe the phenomena of gender and number inflection of Libras from the Descriptive Linguistics approach, based not only on formal characteristics of the phenomena, but also on the effective use of these forms that are present in the general use of Libras, also considering the morphological and semantic aspects of contemporary Libras. In order to achieve this goal, we proposed: to raise and categorize the inflectional processes that occurred in the speech of a deaf teacher in higher education; and, identify and describe the rules of combination that organize gender and number inflection in these signs. Regarding the methodological theoretical framework, the study was based on the qualitative descriptive approach and adopted as a methodological procedure the theoretical and basic literature review. As a theoretical contribution, the present study was based on the studies by Aronoff (1997), Aronoff, Meir and Sandler (2005), Azeredo (2008), Câmara Jr. (1987), Rocha (2008), compared to the linguistic process of inflection; and, in the studies by Felipe (1998), Ferreira Brito (1995), Quadros and Karnopp (2004), in relation to the specific inflectional process of Libras. We used as a data collection instrument the semi-structured interview from a flexible script applied to a deaf teacher who has Libras as a mother tongue and teaches it as a second language in undergraduate courses, that is, he uses Libras in formal and informal environments. The data collection was based on the spontaneous...