FOR A SOCIOLINGUISTIC EXPLANATION FOR THE STRONG PALATALIZATION OF /I/ IN ITAITUBA, PARÁ

Abstract

This work is based on statistical results of the assessment of strong palatalization of /l/ in Itaituba-PA. It is studied the variablerealization of prevocalic lateral /l/, in front of /? j/, e.g. inteligente and família, as spoken in Itaituba-PA. This research followed he Sociolinguistics’ theoretical and methodological position. In total, it was collected 36 texts of personal experience as reported by 36 local speakers, all of which born in the city. The data received a quantitative and qualitative approach. They passed through a statistical analysis and they were interpreted according to the labovian sociolinguistic. The results referring to the social variables were interpreted taking into consideration the linguistics attitudes analysis, that Itaituba speakers manisfestduring their stories. The results indicate that the palatalizationof /l/ is the tendency at the itaitubense’s speech and it is related to the city’s migratory history.Keywords: Variation, palatalization, language attitudes.