THE SIGN DIVERSOS AS A HYPERNYM MARKER IN BRAZILIAN SIGN LANGUAGE

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the sign DIVERSOS (meaning “various” or “diverse”) in Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) as a hyperonymic marker, analyzing its compositional patterns. Theoretically, this work draws on studies in Lexical Semantics (Cançado, 2008, 2016) and research on hyperonyms in Libras (Reis, Quadros, 2024; Santos et al., 2024). The methodological approach involves a corpus-based analysis of the INES Dictionary, systematically examining the sign's role as a lexical categorization operator, forming hyperonymic structures through juxtaposition with other lexical items. Seven compound signs were analyzed, demonstrating recurrent patterns: (1) maintenance of the manual parameter of DIVERSOS combined with specific features of the hyponym; (2) attribution of a broad categorical value; and (3) explicit establishment of taxonomic relationships. The results highlight the morphosemantic productivity of this hyperonymic marker in structuring the Libras lexicon. It is concluded that the sign DIVERSOS constitutes a fundamental semantic operator in Libras, whose compositional systematicity reinforces the grammatical complexity and categorizing capacity of this language, demanding linguistic policies that value such peculiarities in different social contexts.