Phonetic-phonological variation in regions of Minas Gerais

Abstract

This article aims to analyze, in a comparative way, the phonetic-phonological linguistic variation found in two towns in Minas Gerais, Juiz de Fora and Uberlândia. Considering variation as a phenomenon inherent to language, motivated by linguistic and extralinguistic factors, this study gives a better understanding of the functioning of speech in the aforementioned towns. Based on bibliographical and field studies in both municipalities, the purpose was to describe and systematize the variants found and separate them on the basis of the retroflexing phonological processes in the syllabic coda and the /R/ apocope in verbs and the /R/ syncope in the conjunction “porque”, in order to investigate the particularities in the speech of university students. The theoretical basis of this study were found in the studies of Phonetics and Phonology of Portuguese (SEARA et al., 2015; SILVA, 2005), Linguistic Variation (TARALLO, 2005; ZÁGARI, 1998) and Phonological Processes (ALVES, 2008; CAGLIARI, 2002). The data used were gathered through informal interviews done with each of the subjects individually. As a result, similar contexts were found for the deletion of the /R/ in verbs on both towns. In addition, the study reveals similarities in relation to the syncope if the same phoneme in occurrences in the connective “porque” but also differences as to its retroflexion, which was detected as a pattern only in the Uberlândia. The study shows, in conclusion, that there are more similarities than differences between the two towns with respect to the behavior of archiphoneme /R/ in coda.