Uma Libras ou muitas Libras?

Like every language, Libras, Brazilian sign language, is subject to several forms of variation: diatopic, diachronic, diaphasic, diastratic and diaethnic. However, we observed another form related to the contact of two languages, in this case Libras and Portuguese: the diaglossic variation (Monteagudo, 2011). In this paper, based on the history of the emergence of Libras since the founding of the National Institute of Education for the Deaf (INES), I analyze its contact with Portuguese and how this relationship between languages produced diaglossic varieties, with more and less influences from each of these languages. Considering the concept of linguistic continuum, and analyzing several works related to the contact between these two languages, I survey and list some characteristics of the two extremes of this diaglossic continuum, one with more influence from Portuguese and less influence from Libras and the other with more influence from Libras and less influence from Portuguese. It was observed, then, that at this first extreme of the continuum there would be a variety close to Signed Portuguese with more borrowings from the Portuguese language, more use of fingering and mouthing, in addition to linearity, which would result in less use of incorporated signs. At the other extremes, with varieties closer to Libras, including emancipated Libras, there would be more use of simultaneity and spatiality, in addition to more facial and body expressions, classifiers and rhythmic spelling. With this work, I seek to reinforce the existence of many varieties of Libras and to show that these diaglossic varieties are the result of the diversity inherent to the Deaf community(ies). Heterogeneity is an intrinsic characteristic of languages, and Libras is no exception. It is essential to combat linguistic prejudice and discrimination against these varieties, recognizing the richness and diversity of Libras. After all, all these varieties present complex and complete grammars and are part of the expression of Deaf culture(s) and identity(ies) in Brazil.