Ramos, carvões, saberes e tradições: o léxico das benzeideiras na região de Salinas – MG

Abstract

The present research aims to describe the lexicon of benedictions in the rural region of Salinas, Minas Gerais, with the goal of examining to what extent the lexicon used by women engaged in the religious practices of blessing reflects the sociocultural reality of this group. Furthermore, it seeks to construct a vocabulary of the most representative lexemes. Salinas is located in the northern part of the state and encompasses a significant number of districts, communities, and farms, where religious practices and traditions have a profound influence on the local culture. To ground the study, we draw on contributions from Linguistic Anthropology (Duranti, 2000), Sociolinguistics (Labov, 2008 [1972]; Eckert, 1992), Lexicology (Abbade, 2012; Biderman, 2001; Polguère, 2018), Lexicography (Krieger, 2006), and the historical study of benedictions (Cunha, 2018; Del Priore, 2001; Oliveira, 1983). Based on Variationist Sociolinguistics, we conducted the recording and transcription of 13 interviews with elderly female blessing practitioners (benzedeiras) in the rural areas of Salinas. From these, we extracted 150 lexemes related to the practice of benedictions. For each lexeme, a lexicographic record was created, detailing whether or not each term appears in eight Portuguese-language dictionaries, spanning from the 18th century to the present day. This process enabled the construction of a vocabulary of benedictions specific to the Salinas region. Data analysis revealed a significant presence of lexemes associated with the lexical fields of plants and objects used in benedictions, such as branches and cords; the ailments addressed by the benzedeiras, such as "quebrante" (spiritual exhaustion) and "olhado" (evil eye); and a variety of names of patron saints invoked in their prayers, such as the Virgem Maria and Nossa Senhora Aparecida. Among the lexical items that make up the study, about one quarter (26%) are not listed in dictionaries, which reveals an important contribution of the research to documenting the "benzeção" lexicon. Among the 150 lexical units, there are nouns, adjectives, verbs, and phraseologisms, originating from languages such as Latin, Arabic, Greek, and Tupi. Moreover, we observed a linguistic use characterized by religiosity and belief systems, highlighting how benedictions are traditions passed down through generations. Even today, despite advancements in medicine, these practices remain widely sought for ailments and afflictions that elude rational explanation. Additionally, the act of blessing provides benzedeiras with social inclusion, even though the majority are illiterate. They are sought after by their communities and regarded as intercessors and mediators in curing afflictions that trouble people in their daily lives.