Conhecimentos matemáticos do povo potiguara da Paraíba: uma investigação sobre as representações numéricas na língua tupi

Abstract

The present work has as its theme the numbering system of the Potiguara People and its representations in the history of the Tupi language, through traditional knowledge. The general objective of the research was to investigate the mathematical knowledge of the Potiguara people of Paraíba regarding the numeric system and its representations in the Tupi language. To achieve the general objective, the following specific objectives were listed: to understand the culture and history of the Potiguara people, focusing on their relationship with numerical concepts and counting systems in the Tupi language; to describe the process of counting and numerical representation in Tupi, both ancient and modern, used by the Potiguara people of Paraíba; to establish relationships between mathematical knowledge, Potiguara daily practices, and the counting process in Tupi. The research was classified as qualitative, ethnographic, exploratory, and the type of research is participatory, aiming to explore and describe the complexity of social and behavioral phenomena, rather than quantify and generalize the results, thus allowing for a richer and more detailed understanding of the contexts in which the participants are inserted, bringing their personal experiences and perceptions about a certain topic. During the research, three Tupi language teachers and two elders of the Potiguara people were interviewed. During this research process, the participants' involvement in their work in the field, in the indigenous movement, their life experiences, and their role in the process of inserting the mother tongue within the people were taken into consideration. In the research, it was possible to observe the mathematical knowledge of the Potiguara people regarding numerical concepts and the counting process in the Tupi language. It was thus possible to see that linguistic adaptation is a link between traditional knowledge about Potiguara mathematical practices, such as the origins of words like "xe pó" (fingers of the hand) and "xe py" (toes) in counting. Highlighting the transition from a base 5 system to a decimal base, presenting the updating of numerals in modern Tupi, this change reflects not only a numerical transformation but also an integration of different mathematical systems, highlighting the complexity and cultural and educational interdependence.