Envelhecimento e ensino-aprendizagem de língua inglesa como língua estrangeira: uma análise discursiva de teses e dissertações (2013 - 2023)

Abstract

The target of this research focused on comprehend the representations of aging and language through a bibliographic discourse analysis within the field of English language teaching and learning for the elderly. Anchored by the Discourse Analysis theoretical methodology (Pêcheux, 1990; Orlandi, 1997, 2005), this research examined the prevalent discourses in masters and doctor thesis, identifying patterns in statements found in the introductions and conclusions of these works. In order to construct this corpus, ten studies from the fields of Education, Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, and Language Studies, focusing on the English learning process for seniors, defended between 2013 and 2023, were mapped. Based on the observations, the results reveal some regular patterns that support a social discourse that positions the elderly group in a place of vulnerability and dispensability. Moreover, it was observed the ways in which the term “envelhescente” affects the discourse that supports the representations of aging and the societal positioning of elderly individuals. Upon completing the analysis, the analyzed data lead to conclusions on how contexts frames a discourse that affects representations of language within the examined works. These investigations are significant as they contribute to an understanding of how discourses surrounding aging and its representations are addressed in national research, suggesting potential new avenues for exploration within this research domain.