Methodology of functional-textual research

Abstract

Functionalism and Text Linguistics, by considering linguistic analysis always situated in real contexts of use, present several convergences. Although they have their specific characteristics, both currents do not disregard contextual information and the socio-historical conditions of linguistic production. Considering these relationships, the objective of this article is to discuss the methodological aspects of a functional-textual interface, focusing on the interfaces and dialogues between Text Linguistics and two functionalist currents: North American Functionalism and Usage-Based Functional Linguistics, fostering the propositions discussed, mainly, in Castanheira (2022) and Cavalcante (2024). Based especially on authors such as Lakatos and Marconi (1992), Givón (1995), Martelotta (2009), Lacerda (2016), Paiva (2019), Lopes (2022a, 2022b), Furtado da Cunha and Bispo (2023), and Lopes and Rosário (2023), we characterize the methodology of functional-textual research in terms of (i) nature (basic and applied), (ii) approach (mixed), (iii) objective (exploratory, explanatory, and descriptive), and (iv) research techniques/procedures (bibliographic research, case study, action research, descriptive research, etc.). Following this, we present suggestions for applying what is proposed, through a description of the research published in the dossier “Functionalism and Text Linguistics: interfaces and dialogues”, to which this text is linked. It can be concluded that functional-textual research, given its plural and holistic nature, can enrich linguistic analysis. Furthermore, it is clear that the researcher, in this endeavor, can establish different interfaces and dialogues between these theories.