Descriptive Grammar of Brazilian Portuguese II 3305-GOJPB-21
The course continues the study of descriptive grammar of Brazilian Portuguese. It is theoretical and practical in nature and is intended for students whose knowledge of Portuguese allows them to analyse basic linguistic texts and complete grammar and text-analysis exercises.
The course focuses on selected issues in the description of contemporary Brazilian Portuguese, especially the relation between language structure, meaning, context of use and textual organization. Students become familiar with basic concepts in semantics, pragmatics, text linguistics and argumentation, and then apply them to examples taken from different types of discourse.
The course covers:
- lexical semantics, word meaning, semantic relations and polysemy,
- reference and personal, spatial, temporal and textual deixis,
- implicatures, presuppositions and contextual meaning,
- speech act theory and its application to the analysis of Brazilian Portuguese,
- linguistic politeness, politeness strategies and the relation between language and social situation,
- cohesion and coherence in texts,
- mechanisms of reference, anaphora, cataphora, ellipsis and thematic recurrence,
- information structure in discourse,
- basic argumentative structures in opinion and academic texts,
- analysis of selected Brazilian texts using grammatical, semantic, pragmatic and text-linguistic terminology.
Classes include short theoretical explanations, analysis of examples, individual exercises, pair and small-group work, discussion and tasks prepared outside class.
Use of artificial intelligence tools: AI tools may be used only as support for organizing notes, preparing questions, preliminary language checking and independent practice of grammar material. It is not acceptable to submit answers, exercises, text analyses or written assignments generated by AI as one’s own work. Students must carry out linguistic analysis independently and be able to explain the concepts and solutions used. If AI tools are used while preparing an assignment, the scope of their use must be indicated.
Content note: the course does not normally include materials containing violence, vulgar language or explicit erotic content. If an individual linguistic example or authentic text contains potentially sensitive content, the instructor will inform students before discussing it.
Course coordinators
Type of course
Mode
General: Classroom | Term 2025Z: Blended learning Classroom Self-reading | Term 2026Z: Blended learning Classroom Self-reading |
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the student:
Knowledge
- defines and explains basic concepts in semantics, pragmatics, text linguistics and argumentation used in the description of Brazilian Portuguese (K_W02, K_W05).
- characterizes selected grammatical, semantic, and pragmatic phenomena of contemporary Brazilian Portuguese and identifies their functions in utterances and texts (K_W03, K_W05).
- describes the relations between linguistic structure, meaning, communicative context, register, and functional style in Portuguese-language texts (K_W04, K_W05).
Skills
- analyses examples of Brazilian Portuguese using basic semantic, pragmatic, and text-linguistic terminology (K_U01, K_U04).
- identifies mechanisms of reference, deixis, presupposition, implicature, cohesion, and coherence in selected Portuguese-language texts (K_U03, K_U04).
- interprets the argumentative structure of short opinion and academic texts by identifying the thesis, arguments, counterarguments, and linguistic resources that strengthen persuasionn(K_U04, K_U06).
-formulates in Portuguese a short written or oral analysis of a selected grammatical, semantic, pragmatic or textual phenomenon (K_U07, K_U08).
Social competences
- critically evaluates their own linguistic knowledge and recognizes the need to further develop their competence in the analysis of Brazilian Portuguese (K_K01, K_K02).
- participates in group work and academic discussion by justifying their position and responding to analyses proposed by other students (K_K03, K_K04).
- follows contemporary linguistic phenomena in Brazilian Portuguese and understands their relevance for social and academic communication (K_K08).
Assessment criteria
The course uses the following teaching methods:
- seminar with elements of problem-oriented lecture,
- analysis of linguistic examples,
- grammar, semantic, and text-analysis exercises,
- individual work,
- short text analysis,
- error correction and discussion of exercise results.
The course ends with a written examination held during the examination session.
The final grade is based on the examination result. The examination includes:
- questions assessing knowledge of basic concepts in semantics, pragmatics, text linguistics, and argumentation,
- analytical tasks concerning selected grammatical,
- semantic, pragmatic, and textual phenomena in Brazilian Portuguese,
- a short analysis of a text fragment or utterance using the terminology discussed during the course.
The examination accounts for 100% of the final grade. To pass the course, the student must obtain at least 60% of the examination points.
Exercises, assignments completed during the semester, and classwork are preparatory in nature. They serve to consolidate the material and prepare students for the examination. They are not separate components of the final grade.
Suggested grading scale:
60-67%: 3.0
68-75%: 3.5
76-83%: 4.0
84-91%: 4.5
92-100%: 5.0
Maximum number of unexcused absences: 2 meetings. If this limit is exceeded, the student must complete an additional assignment indicated by the instructor and covering the material from the missed classes. Failure to compensate for absences above the limit may make it impossible to confirm the achievement of the learning outcomes developed in class. Absence from more than half of the meetings makes it impossible to pass the course in the regular mode.
Practical placement
-
Bibliography
Required reading
Basso, Renato. 2019. Descrição do português brasileiro. São Paulo: Parábola.
Cançado, Márcia. 2008. Manual de semântica. Belo Horizonte: Editora da UFMG.
Castilho, Ataliba T. de. 2010. Nova gramática do português brasileiro. São Paulo: Contexto.
Cavalcante, Mônica Magalhães. 2011. Os sentidos do texto. São Paulo: Contexto.
Koch, Ingedore Grünfeld Villaça. 2021. Introdução à linguística textual: trajetória e grandes temas. 2. ed., 4. imp. São Paulo: Contexto.
Perini, Mário A. 2017. Gramática descritiva do português brasileiro. Petrópolis: Vozes.
Additional reading
Azeredo, José Carlos de. 2018. Gramática Houaiss da língua portuguesa. São Paulo: Publifolha.
Bagno, Marcos. 2012. Gramática pedagógica do português brasileiro. São Paulo: Parábola.
Ilari, Rodolfo. 2001. Introdução à semântica: brincando com a gramática. São Paulo: Contexto.
Koch, Ingedore Grünfeld Villaça; Elias, Vanda Maria. 2016. Escrever e argumentar. São Paulo: Contexto.
Marcuschi, Luiz Antônio. 2008. Produção textual, análise de gêneros e compreensão. São Paulo: Parábola.
Neves, Maria Helena de Moura. 2011. Gramática de usos do português. São Paulo: Editora Unesp.