Lexicon and Social Imaginary

Analysis of the denominations attributed to prostitute in the State of Maranhao

Abstract

This ongoing work aims to analyze the denominations attributed to prostitutes and understand how the lexicon reflects collective social imagery and the ideology of a community. The choice of this theme is justified by its relevance in understanding how the lexicon related to prostitution carries cultural and ideological views ingrained in our society, reflected through words and expressions. In this sense, the research hypothesizes that the names given to prostitutes reflect the dominant view regarding women's image and sexuality in society. The lexical variation concerning prostitutes reveals diverse social and cultural attitudes within the community. Regarding methodological procedures, the study is based on data obtained from the Linguistic Atlas of Maranhão Project (ALiMA), specifically focusing on question 139 of the semantic-lexical questionnaire (QSL), "What is the name for a woman who sells herself to any man?" The research is grounded in the theoretical and methodological assumptions of Dialectology, Geosociolinguistics, Lexicology, and Imaginary. Dialectology and Geosociolinguistics provide tools to map regional and social lexical variation. Lexicology aids in the analysis of term meaning and usage, while the theory of Imaginary allows exploration of how cultural and social representations influence language. Partial data collected show significant lexical variation concerning the investigated lexical item, with 26 variants and 126 occurrences recorded. Analyzing the denominations like "meretriz" (prostitute), "mundana" (worldly woman), and "piriguete" (slut), it becomes evident that these terms and their usage in Maranhão's lexicon reflect an ideology permeating the state's social imaginary, where female sexuality outside marriage is frowned upon. Thus, it highlights the intrinsic relationship between language and society, where the lexicon, in this case, reflects the viewpoint of a specific community.