Entre “eu”, “nós” e “a gente”: estratégias retóricas e ethos em Lélia Gonzalez

Abstract

This research presents an investigation of the rhetorical strategies employed by author Lélia Gonzalez, through the use of FPD (first person discourse) – I, we, and a gente, including the possessive and oblique equivalents – in the construction of ethos in the texts of the book Lugar de negro (1982). Gonzalez stands out on the national scene as an intellectual and activist, and is an influential figure in the brazilian black and feminist movements. Ethos is understood as the image of oneself projected with the intention of generating credibility and adherence on the part of audience. The study is relevant because it contributes to studies on personal pronouns and rhetoric, in addition to shedding light on a little-explored perspective: the linguistic scope of Lélia Gonzalez. The general objective is to investigate the rhetorical functions related to FPD, with a focus on the construction of ethos. This research is based on theoretical assumptions about personal pronouns, specifically FPD, and considerations about New Rhetoric, based on authors such as Benveniste (1991), Fiorin (1996), Faraco and Moura (2005), Camara Jr. (2006), Amossy (2008a, 2008b), Eggs (2008), Mosca (2011), Perelman and Olbrechts-Tyteca (2014), Maingueneau (2020), Bini (2023) among others. This is, therefore, a qualitative, interpretive study aimed at verifying, analyzing, and reflecting on the rhetorical function of the excerpts from the analysis corpus. It has been found that the use of FPD reveals Lélia Gonzalez's hybrid and unique style, used as a rhetorical strategy by the author, who alternates between I, we, and a gente, constituting different images of herself – sometimes as an intellectual, sometimes as an activist, sometimes as part of a collective, sometimes as someone who shares language and experiences with her audience, among other images identified by this investigation.