The philosophical grammar by Bernardo de Lima e Melo Bacelar (1783)

• Autor(a) principal: de Melo, Lívia
• Data de Publicação: 2020
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Confluência
• Texto Completo: https://revistaconfluencia.org.br/rc/article/view/366
• topic: Portuguese grammar; linguistic enlightenment; pedagogical ideas; XVIII century; rationalism.; gramática portuguesa; iluminismo linguístico; ideias pedagógicas; século XVIII; racionalismo.

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the linguistic and pedagogical ideas present in the “Grammatica Philosophica da Língua Portugueza” (1783), by Bernardo de Lima e Melo Bacelar (ca.1736-post.1787), leaving from a critical reading of this Grammar book and an analysis about other researchers who have already studied it. The “Grammatica” is divided into three parts, according to the parts of the grammatical sentence and their functions in the sentence. These parts are subdivided into chapters. The author uses the case nomenclature to describe the terms of the sentences. His intention was to offer to the readers an innovative material, which could present the rules of the Portuguese language by a new methodology. Bacelar believed that a clear, precise and unambiguous communication would only be possible through the knowledge of these rules. As an attentive follower of Port-Royal’s rationalist ideas and of the Enlightenment, he also believed in the existence of an universal grammar. Although he was a great erudite of classical languages and of the Portuguese language, his job was underestimated by the scholars of his time. Unfortunately, he did not achieve his purpose of providing clarity in communication.