Minidicionário digital da língua de sinais munduruku

Abstract

This research brings the results of capturing records of the sign terms used by the deaf of the Munduruku ethnic group, for the development and conception of the DIGITAL MINIDICTIONARY OF THE MUNDURUKU SIGN LANGUAGE, which has 59 sign terms and is available in e-book format. To this end, we try to answer the following focus question: How can the digital Mini dictionary developed in this study contribute to the training process of teachers of Libras and Special Education courses, for the acquisition of Sign Language in the deaf community of the Munduruku ethnic group in the State of Pará? Given the focus question, the main objective for this study was to design a Digital Mini Dictionary of the Munduruku Sign Language - in Portuguese, LSM - aiming to contribute to the teacher training process for the acquisition of the Sign Language used in the village of Karapanatuba, in the municipality of Jacareacanga, in the State of Pará. The research presents a qualitative, exploratory, and field approach. The locus of the research was the Karapanatuba village, in the Munduruku Indigenous Land, located in the municipality of Jacareacanga, in the southwest of the State of Pará, and the techniques used were participant observation and open interview. The research participants were: 3 deaf indigenous people from the Munduruku ethnic group; 3 indigenous teachers, academics from the UEPA Indigenous Intercultural course; 1 non-indigenous participant, who works in the Munduruku Indigenous Land; and 1 local interpreter from the Karapanatuba village. Due to the pandemic, the sign terms’ capture and registration took place remotely and in person. For cataloging and product development, we used a terminographic form and, in addition, we used the registration form to then organize and systematize the sign terms. To meet the criteria for designing educational products, validation was necessary, and this stage was divided into two parts: the first with the deaf community of the Munduruku ethnic group, to validate the signs, and the second with the expert panel, composed by professionals from the areas of sign language, indigenous peoples, and design/communication. With the conception of the Digital Mini Dictionary, we intend to contribute and spread LSM signs to expand sign language vocabulary in Brazil, so that it can be an additional use and research tool for Libras and Special Education teachers, as well as for undergraduates /deaf teachers and students from the Munduruku people. In summary, the product was analyzed by the Munduruku community of deaf and hearing people, by specialists and research professors, leading us to the conclusion that this pedagogical resource is important and indispensable to improve communication and interaction between deaf and hearing indigenous people, and it can also strengthen Munduruku sign language as a differentiated linguistic dissemination given its condition as an emergent and cultural language.