Scope of a theoretical-methodological Ethnographic Linguistic Atlas of the border Brazil / Paraguay (ALFBP): methodology and preliminary study

Abstract

This paper presents the theoretical and methodological scope which subsidized the project “Linguistic Atlas of the Brazil / Paraguay (ALFBP): the search for inter-influencesof languages in contact” and some preliminary research. The study is related to a thesis in progress that aims to describe and map, using lexical and phonetic letters, linguistic and cultural contacts involving three languages: Spanish, Guarani and Portuguese. These three languages are spoken in the towns that divide the territories of Brazil and Paraguay, particularly in the west region of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. For the design of the database, eighty (80) surveys were conducted on both sides of the regions boundary, within ten (10) locations, five on the Brazilian side and five on the Paraguayan side. The interviews involved eight informants per location who were distributed, into two distinct groups: one with and one without Paraguayan descent.