Context
Language is a living organism, constantly changing and adapting. The words we use in our daily lives carry meanings that we often do not stop to reflect on. Two important characteristics of language are polysemy and foreign words, concepts that make the Portuguese language rich in expressions and vocabulary.
Polysemy refers to the phenomenon where the same word can carry more than one meaning, depending on the context in which it is used. For example, the word 'bank' can refer to a financial institution, a seat, or a set of data. Understanding the concept of polysemy is crucial for the proper understanding and use of the language.
Foreign words, on the other hand, refer to the use of words and expressions originating from other languages. In our globalized society, it is common to incorporate foreign terms into our everyday language, such as 'internet,' 'hamburger,' and 'soccer.' However, the use of foreign words also raises interesting questions about cultural identity and the purity of the language.
Online shopping, drive-thru, delete, mouse, are some examples of foreign words that we use daily. Some of these words maintain their original form while others are adapted into Portuguese, becoming something more familiar to us, Portuguese speakers. In the case of polysemy, think of words like 'manga,' which can be a fruit or part of a shirt, or 'caixa,' which can be a container or a place for payment in a store.
These concepts are of utmost importance in understanding the language and its functioning, especially regarding reading and writing. Furthermore, they are essential for effective communication, as they enable the clear expression of thoughts and ideas, avoiding possible misunderstandings.
To delve deeper into the issue of polysemy and foreign words, you can access the following resources:
- Priberam Dictionary of the Portuguese Language: https://www.priberam.pt
- Portuguese on the Web: http://www.portuguesnarede.com/
- Portuguese Language Portal: http://www.portaldalinguaportuguesa.org/
- Book 'Polysemy and Main Foreign Words in the Portuguese Language' by Maria Helena de Moura Neves.
Practical Activity
Title: 'Polywords and Foreigners: The Exploration of Polysemy and Foreign Words in Our World'
Project Objective
Deepen students' knowledge of the concepts of polysemy and foreign words through the creation of a collaborative dictionary and a presentation involving the analysis of these concepts in various media materials.
Detailed Project Description
Divided into groups of 3 to 5 students, each group will go through a series of steps to understand, apply, and reflect on the concepts of polysemy and foreign words.
First, students will research and collect a list of polysemous words and foreign words present in our daily lives. These words will be part of a 'Collaborative Dictionary,' including the definition of the words, their various meanings in different contexts (for polysemous words), and their language of origin (for foreign words), as well as examples of use.
Next, students will develop a presentation (which can be a video, play, podcast, etc.) demonstrating the use and application of some of these words in real contexts, allowing for an in-depth discussion on the impact and importance of these concepts in our language.
The presentation should be contextualized, using examples from various disciplines to show the practical application of the concepts of polysemy and foreign words.
Required Materials
- Books and online materials for research
- Digital tools for creating the collaborative dictionary (Google Docs, Padlet, etc.)
- Equipment for recording/producing the presentation (camera, microphone, video/audio editor, etc.)
Step-by-Step
- Form groups of 3 to 5 students.
- Each group should research polysemy and foreign words, using class materials and external sources.
- Each group should collect a list of common polysemous words and foreign words, making notes on their meanings, origin, and examples of use.
- The words should be organized in a 'Collaborative Dictionary.' The tool chosen for organizing this dictionary is at the group's discretion, with Google Docs being suggested for its ease of collaboration and organization.
- Based on the collected words, each group should create a presentation demonstrating the use of these words in real contexts. The form of the presentation is at the group's discretion, it can be a video, podcast, play, slide presentation, etc.
- Each group should present their work to the class, promoting a discussion about the concepts learned and their practical applications.
- After the presentation, students should create a detailed report on the project, including Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography.
In the report, the Introduction should contextualize the project's theme, discuss its relevance and objective. The Development should explain the theory behind polysemy and foreign words, detail the activity carried out, the methodology used, and the results obtained. The Conclusion should summarize the main points, explain the learnings obtained, and the conclusions generated by the project. Finally, the Bibliography should list all sources used during the work.
