Libras: An official language? A discursive analysis of the 'status' of Brazilian Sign Language in Brazilian states

ABSTRACT This paper analyzes the political status of Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) in 21 Brazilian states and the Federal District with laws recognizing Libras, investigating how the designations and functions attributed to the language have shifted in legislation between 1991 and 2026. The study is based on the area of Language Policy and the socio-anthropological perspective of deafness. Methodologically, a documentary research was carried out, with qualitative analysis of the terms and meanings present in the laws of subnational entities. The results reveal a historical shift in the legal framework: from an initial clinical and welfare-oriented view, which treated Libras as “gestures” or “means of communication”, to an understanding of the language as a linguistic system of a visual-motor nature and its own grammar. However, the analysis points out that, despite the robust legal framework, the effective guarantee of linguistic rights and the protagonism of the Deaf community(ies) still face significant barriers in social practice. It is concluded that the recognition of Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) was a crucial step, but full Deaf citizenship depends on overcoming remaining ideologies that limit the linguistic autonomy of these individuals. KEYWORDS: Libras; Language Policy; State Legislation; Deaf Community(ies); Bilingualism.