A look on written language and the process of referentiation in notarized letters

Abstract

To be able to write in a proficient way, it is not enough to see writing as a communication tool, since the process of appropriation of language through writing involves many aspects beyond the knowledge of the alphabet or the mastery of technique. The objective of this paper is to discuss the importance of writing in the constitution of subjects and of society. The focus is on language choices and strategies of textual referentiation used in a notarized letter written in the year 1803. Based on Fisher (2009), Olson (1997), Bourdieu (1998), Dubois & Mondada (2003), Koch (2008), among others, it was observed that writing is understood from different perspectives. The results show that the lexical selection in language writing is performed based on the intentions of the author of the text before his/her interlocutor. Likewise, it sets up individual and collective beliefs.