O EXAME CELPE-BRAS COMO POLÍTICA GATEKEEPING PARA A NATURALIZAÇÃO NO BRASIL

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a reflection on the linguistic policy that establishes the requirement of the Celpe-Bras proficiency exam as proof of knowledge of Portuguese in naturalization processes and on the consequences that it could have on the exercise of citizenship by migrants in the country. To do so, we analyze this requirement based on the theoretical-methodological assumptions of the Celpe-Bras exam (RODRIGUES, 2006; COSTA & CAR-VALHO, 2013), to reflect on which linguistic ideologies (WOOLARD, 1998; MCCARTY, 2011) in Brazil make up this new language policy for migration and refuge. We conclude that the certification requirement represents a vertical ((BIZON & CAMARGO, 2018), racialized and assimilationist language policy (BLACKLEDGE, 2006; EREL et al., 2016) that reinforces dispossession and non-recognition processes (BUTLER & ATHANASIOU, 2013) to which these populations are submitted, operating as a gatekeeping instrument (EREL et al., 2016; TRI-ANDAFYLLIDOU, 2014; PENNYCOOK, 1994) or hindering their access to citizenship.

Keywords

• migration and refuge
• naturalization;
• language ideologies
• citizenship
• celpe-bras