LIBRAS and technology: translingual practices in deaf youtubers productions

ABSTRACT Changes and innovations in the field of technologies have brought new forms of communication and learning, especially for Brazilian deaf community. Video calls would allow Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) to be the language of expression of the deaf. Phone video channels available on various platforms made it possible to disseminate artistic expressions and scientific and cultural information in Libras. This article aims to discuss the relationship between technological innovations and the deaf, having as a reference the translanguaging perspective, thought by Canagarajah (2013, 2017), Li Wei (2011), García and Li Wei (2014), among others. This research, partially based on ethnographic work, investigates the probable linguistic and semiotic plurality in the channels of two deaf youtubers: Drag Queen Kitana and Gabriel Isaac (who is the creator of the Isflocos channel) that debates various subjects, such as cochlear implant, accessibility, linguistic rights etc. At the end of this article, the analyzes point to the existence of multiple languages in the productions of both youtubers which contributes to the process of deconstructing the image of Brazil as a monolingual country.