Uma data para celebrar? As representações do 12 de outubro no mundo hispânico sob o olhar decolonial

Abstract

The goal of this work is to analyze which semiotic elements are marked to build the meanings of October 12 in the Hispanic world and their current social impact. In order to do so, we have analyzed four posts made on October 12, 2020, on Gaturro's official Instagram page and its followers’ comments about their content. Analysis conforms to the theoretical field of Applied Linguistics, seeking the understanding of how social practices constitute and are constituted by language (Fabrício, 2017) and from the understanding that the digital environment is a space in dispute between social actors (Wood; Smith, 2005). In accordance with decolonial studies, we understand the colonial process as a historical advent that influences the very constitution of commemorative dates, representations, social identities and the construction of language, especially racialization (Quijano, 2005; Veronelli, 2019). Investigation has a descriptive-interpretative and applied nature with a qualitative approach of online social research. Results show comments questioning about the date meanings, however the semiotic elements of the four posts link up to colonial ideas such as crystallized image of indigenous peoples, Christian faith, nationalism and the figure of Columbus, reinforcing colonialities.