ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to analyse reformulation as a discursive strategy in the specific context of teaching and learning Portuguese, to contribute to the extant knowledge of the verbal interactions that take place in the classroom. To this end, we used the interactional sociolinguistics framework to analyse the conversational mechanism of reformulation, in a pedagogical context. More specifically, we look at the co-construction of the learning and teaching of European Portuguese, in two 5th grade classes, which total 44 students. Results show that reformulation occurs very frequently in the development phase of the lesson and is part of the verbal routines of the participants − teacher and students −, constituting a strategy of conversational involvement, which is fundamental for all linguistic understanding in pedagogical interactions. In class, reformulation aims to repair communicative problems, such as errors or misunderstandings, and to improve understanding of the meaning of texts for the effective learning of Portuguese as a mother tongue.
Keywords:
Interactional Sociolinguistics; pedagogical context; reformulation; conversational involvement