Brazilian sign language as used by the deaf community in Brazil is a visual spatial modality language; graphic representations of this language usually consist of images in printed and digital dictionaries. In Brazil, the first known sign language dictionary is the Iconographia dos Signaes dos surdos-mudos printed in 1875. After this work, other dictionaries followed and they became part of the reference materials used for teaching sign language. Based on the Libras dictionaries that serve as references, the present study aims to analyze and discuss the historical constitution of this publication genre in Brazil. Characteristics and weaknesses related to the iconography and lexicography of these publications are identified as aspects that may interfere with learning signs in undergraduate courses. Regarding how we have approached the theme, this is a qualitative study, supported by documentary methodology. Five Libras dictionaries were selected, based on the criteria that these publications have been selected as bibliographic references in Libras courses at the undergraduate level. The categories for analysis mainly focus on issues related to the representation of the images (iconography) and to the lexical aspects that make up the signs. We were able to see that the selected works present similar characteristics, regarding their presentation, the constitution of the images and lexical aspects that make up the signs, but the dictionaries challenge professionals that work with this genre of illustration, because reading the images is not always easy to accomplish.
Brazilian sign language; Deafness; Dictionaries
