Proposal of new concepts and a new notation in formulating etymological propositions and discussions

Abstract

This paper aims to present the work methodology and the main theoretical postulates that guide the preparation of DELPo (Etymological Dictionary of the Portuguese Language), under the responsibility of NEHiLP (Center for Support to the Research in Etymology and History of the Portuguese Language), as it comes to an innovative project both in its theoretical and empirical-operational aspects. It is intended here to present the conceptual, notational and terminological innovations proposed by the authors, that support the preparation of DELPo. For this, we rely on theoretical references on neology (ALVES, 2007; BARBOSA, 1993), lexicogenesis (BIZZOCCHI, 1998), and etymology (VIARO, 2011) and propose an update on the symbols used in the formulation of etymological propositions, which can at the same time clear up ambiguities and inconsistencies of traditional notation and answer for the conceptual innovations introduced here. It is intended that both the described etymological approach and the symbols corresponding to them become standard in the research in etymology and etymological lexicography.