THE CONNECTOR “MAS” AND THE FUNCTIONAL APPROACH IN THE TEACHING OF PORTUGUESE GRAMMAR

Abstract

This paper aims to discuss the "mas" connector functions from two focuses: 1) describe the behavior of the connector in contexts propitious to grammatical change; and 2) reflect about the incorporation of functionalist assumptions to the teaching of grammar in Portuguese classes of basic education. The data derives from the corpora: Editoriais Jornalísticos do Século XX na Paraíba (Silva, 2005) and Linguajar do Sertão Paraibano (Stein et al., 2012). The perspective of analysis is functionalist, arguing that the discourse triggers the emergenciality of grammar (Hopper, 1987). The analysis of the uses of "mas" suggests possible innovations in the pedagogical practice of the basic education teacher regarding the teaching of the use of this connector.