Linguistics and Literature: possible Dialogues

Abstract

We address the dialogue between linguistics and literature by analyzing Jakobson's contribution to the relationship between these two fields, as well as the work of Brazilian linguist Maria Helena de Moura Neves, who approaches this relationship differently from Jakobson’s perspective. The aim of this work is to critically reflect on the limits, boundaries and interdependencies between two major branches of the language sciences: Linguistics and Literature. Our analysis begins with a bibliographic study of Roman Jakobson and Roland Barthes – one of his followers, who shares a Saussurean view of language – to explore the relationship between these two fields, which, according to our discussions, cannot be treated independently. To illustrate this perspective, a brief analysis of a literary text is provided, applying Jakobson's linguistic concepts to comprehend these works. To complement our analysis, we examine linguistic relations from another angle, focusing on grammatical structures revealed in literary works through the presence of metalinguistic elements in poetic texts. We include a selection of texts by linguist and grammar scholar Maria Helena de Moura Neves, who – now from a functionalist and pragmatic perspective – presents grammar studies based on literary texts. In this case, literature serves as a means to facilitate the understanding of grammatical and discursive mechanics. Thus, this study aims to foster a discussion on the reciprocal relationship between linguistics and literature.