O PAPEL DA LINGUAGEM EM WEST SIDE STORY (2021): UMA ANÁLISE SOCIOLINGUÍSTICA DO BILINGUISMO E SEU PAPEL NA RESOLUÇÃO DE CONFLITOS INTERCULTURAIS

Abstract

This paper aims to carry out a sociolinguistic analysis of the musical West Side Story, specifically its 2021 version, seeking to relate the use of language to the affirmation of the cultural identity of ethnic minorities, as a tool for declaring cultural superiority and for mitigating or fomenting intercultural conflicts. To do this, I analyze the historical context of Puerto Rican migration to NYC in the 1950s as a colonial territory, and the urban cleansing policies implemented by the city government, addressing the concept of gentrification (GLASS, 1964). I then explore the theoretical definitions of bilingualism, diglossia (FISHMAN, 1972, apud CALVET, 2004), code-switching (RAMPTON, 1999, apud CALVET, 2004) and interculturality (BENESSAIEH, 2010) to begin our analysis of the feature film. We can then see, from the analysis carried out, the essential role of language in the context of intercultural conflicts, serving as an instrument for maintaining power and preserving ethnic-cultural identity. Finally, I relate this analysis to the importance of this method of analysis for the LEA-NI professional, demonstrating how sociolinguistics can be used in the area of foreign language studies for specific purposes as a device for mediating intercultural conflicts, one of the areas explored during the degree alongside language learning.