Speech as Action in the Classroom: Semiotic Regulation of Cognitive Processes

Abstract

Abstract This article investigated how determined linguistic actions, the speech acts, create favorable conditions for the emergence and maintenance of Zones of Proximal Development (ZPDs), therefore of cognitive actions. A geography classroom setting of sixth year elementary school was analyzed. “The relief and its agents" was the main conversational topic. Through interactional analysis and videography, we identified patterns in the categories of speech acts used in class. Some types of speech acts were used for to maintain didactic contract and others speech acts were used to clarify school contents. These patterns provide favorable conditions for emergency and maintenance of ZPDs, which were understood as symbolic space built along the discourse of participants, and that promote learning.

Keywords

• zone of proximal development
• cognitive processes
• semiotic regulation
• speech acts
• didactic contract