Civil Service Examinations as language policy and normative agency in Brazil

Abstract

In taking over the role of setting the standard language Brazilian schools are also denying other existing varieties to the level of stigma. Linguistic policy entails making a choice which is basically connected to public institutions. Linguistic planning does not only deal with linguistic or communication problems, but it especially focuses on non linguistic issues that lead to power issues. Linguistic policy in Brazil does not take the form of law, it takes place instead in a fuzzy style, disguised in the belief of unity, identity and indivisibility of the nation. Such beliefs were established by means of force and violence and contributed to the development and maintenance of myths. Traditional grammars adopted a view of language that mirrors this picture, producing a conceptual confusion between scholar rules and writing patterns that still predominates in Brazilian schools. The maintenance of this view is encouraged by common sense and factors such as the media, school books and entrance exams to universities. In this paper, we frame civil service examinations as both language policy (even though not clearly defined) and normative agency in Brazil. We then suggest setting clear courses of action to deal with the linguistic issues in the country stating criteria and paths to be taken.

Key words: language teaching, language policy, civil service examinations.