Referencing and syncretism: the case of webvideos that disseminate science on YouTube

Abstract

This paper deals the phenomenon of referencing in a scientific popularization video of YouTube. The main aim is comprehending which are the functions undertaken by the visual elements (icons and theatrical performance) to the production of meanings about the discourse objects. For that, there were established the following specific aims: to identify cases of co-referentiality between lexicalized designations and visual messages, describing the semantic operations engineered by this union and ii) to analyze qualitatively these cohesive links considering the components of communicative situation (of science midiatization). The operation of the referential constructions is investigated in the lights of Textual Linguistics (CAVALCANTE, 2003) and of the studies on science midiatization (CHARAUDEAU, 2008), once this is the surrounding of language activity permeated by rituals and constraints that overdetermine the lexical and semiotic choices to explain science. The webvideo examined it is conceived as a syncretic text, which requires that be used concepts from Semiotics (BARROS, 1990; GREIMAS e COURTÉS, 2013; PIETROFORTE, 2008) and from nonverbal communication (RECTOR E TRINTA, 2005), to map the semi-symbolism of text and, therefore, to obtain signification macrounities of the episode. The results showed semantic-discursive and cognitive factors that make the “syncretic referencing” work, extending the notion of anaphora. In sequential and textual progression, there are verified ways of representation which are closely linked to knowledge that emerges from situation of science midiatization.