Análise discursiva da metáfora : revisitando o estruturalismo saussuriano

Abstract

This research revisits Sausurre’s structuralism in order to analyze, in a deeper level, his theoretical positioning as far as language, sign, linguistic value, subject, discourse, and reference are concerned, aiming at getting the concept of metaphor in such a way as to undo the stereotype created about Saussure and present his discursive side facing the linguistic analysis. Based on such discursive perspective, this work sees the metaphor as part of the language, anchored on the conception of Saussure’s linguistic value, which was ratified by Ricouer (2000) and Barthes (1979). The proposed theoretical-methodological approach focuses on the conception of metaphor as a construction of reality, based on the social-historical-cultural context of discourse. The analysis adopts Saussure’s positioning – from a parallel between the Lectures on General Linguistics and Writings in General Linguistics – alongside with the propositions of Barthes (Elements of Semiology) and Ricouer (Metaphor Alive). The examination of the corpus “Discursos da Vitória” (Discourses of Victory) – 2002 and 2006 – by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva confirmed the necessity to surpass the linguistic level, and integrate the discursive aspect. Thus, this work corroborates Saussure’s proposition that “language is a social fact”, propitiating an analysis according to the historical-cultural demands that involve the discourse and support the variability of the linguistic values, in which the metaphor is a possibility of signification.