The acknowledgment of native communities’ linguistic identity under the bias of language policy: reflections on barriers and attempts to overcome

Abstract

This paper addresses the search for mechanisms that mitigate difficulties for the acknowledgment of native communities’ linguistic identity set forth in the Constitution and its adversities. The purpose of the research is to present the provisions related to linguistic diversity existing in the legal system, to verify if they are effective in Brazilian society regarding natives’ communities, and to present concrete cases relevant to the topic. Hence, concepts related to language policy (Monteagudo, 2012) and linguistic right (Abreu, 2018) would be used as a theoretical basis. In general, despite relevant legal improvements, the legally established rights are still ineffective, given the lack of knowledge and commitment by state powers, in addition to the actions of society itself, which, through an unofficial language policy, imposes to today’s society a monolingualism and linguistic homogeneity (Shohamy, 2006). Accordingly, although there are obstacles, part of society, mainly members of natives’ communities, try to seek tools to implement linguistic rights, even without the support of the state apparatus, and, in the end, by acknowledging linguistic diversity, it seeks to integrate them into the national identity.