“A genre is always the same and yet not the same, always old and new simultaneously.”¹ Novelties

Understanding and evaluation. Understanding is impossible without evaluation.

Mikhail Bakhtin

Each Editorial of our journal is always a privileged form of our dialoging with authors, readers and collaborators. Thus, this is not just a space for presenting published texts, but a place where we express ideas, ideals and even concerns with the day-to-day editorial tasks of a journal; we deal with aspects of academic life that stand out or stood out in the period prior to publication; or we still focus on a novelty that may, in some way, affect us, such as the pandemic, ChatGPT... We continually seek to recall points of the Bakhtin Circle’s philosophy of language, especially those related to responsible research ethics, which supports the journal’s activities.² So, the collection of articles in the issue, the flow of evaluations, the different tasks, or even everyday facts, all can become important themes in these first pages of Bakhtiniana. It is also in the Editorial that we highlight the novelties of the journal in recent texts, especially the changes our journal has been adopting as a result of adherence to open science procedures.

In this issue, first of all, we inform our readers that we have adhered to the Continuous Article Publication (CAP) system, and as a result we have opted for having some issues open simultaneously. This is because, in addition to continuing to receive articles in continuous flow, we now encourage our authors to contribute with articles that respond to calls from our ad hoc Editors. The five open calls we currently have are:³

Presence of a Religious Worldview in the Discursive Construction of the World. Ad Hoc Editor: Professor Pedro Farias Francelino (Universidade Federal da Paraíba - UFPB, Brazil). Due date: August 30, 2023.

Contemporary Literature for Children and Young People: Plural Space(s). Ad Hoc Editors: Professor Diana Navas (Pontíficia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, Brazil) and Professor Maria Dolores Prades Vianna (Instituto Emília, Brazil). Due date: October 30, 2023.

Dialogues between Saussure, Benveniste and Bakhtin. Ad Hoc Editors: Professor Valdir do Nascimento Flores (UFRGS - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul) Professor Pierre-Yves Testenoire (Université de Paris III - Sorbonne Nouvelle). Due date: February 15, 2024.

Literature of Black Ancestry: Diasporic Crossroads. Ad Hoc Editors: Professor Elizabeth Cardoso (Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo - PUC/SP; Leader of the Research Group Literatura de Ancestralidade Negra [Literature of Black Ancestry]) and Professor Félix Ayoh’OMIDIRE (Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria). Due date: April 04, 2024.

The Soviet and the Post-Soviet in Dialogue with (Post-/De)Colonial Studies. Ad Hoc Editors: Laura Gherlone (UCA/CONICET - Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, National Scientific and Technical Research Council, Argentina) Pietro Restaneo (ILIESI/CNR - Institute for the European Intellectual Lexicon and History of Ideas, National Research Council, Italy). Due date: October 01, 2024.

As articles concerning the different calls have been reviewed (approved and revised in both versions - Portuguese and English), they can be published immediately, i.e., without having to remain waiting until all articles are ready for publishing in a closed issue. The main objective of the continuous publication of articles is to accelerate the research communication process and thus contribute through this popularization process to reading and citation.⁴

Secondly, we highlight two interconnected aspects of open science procedures that, in our view, have been contributing in an innovative and effective way to the construction of knowledge in our area: the interaction between authors and evaluators and the publication of opinions, as long as authorized by authors and reviewers. As our readers can observe, at the end of each article one finds the commitment of the journal on such a matter: “Due to the commitment assumed by Bakhtiniana. Revista de Estudos do Discurso [Bakhtiniana. Journal of Discourse Studies] to Open Science, this journal only publishes reviews that have been authorized by all involved.”

We have a long-term culture of blind peer review of scientific articles. This process is usually justified as a way of guaranteeing the neutrality of those involved, avoiding partiality and conflict of interests. These are valid justifications, without a shadow of a doubt. But the ethics and transparency of research can go further, to the benefit and enrichment of all, as we have seen in our editorial experience and can be observed in the growing acceptance of the publication of opinions by reviewers and authors. The journal respects the option of authors and reviewers for one or more means of opening the peer review process, though. In this issue, only one of the articles has not had any opinions from reviewers published; and there are articles in which we can observe not only the review itself, but also the interaction between authors and reviewers in view of the final approval of the text.

Certainly, these dialogues are examples of responsive and active understanding of texts and utterances, a well-known concept in the works of Bakhtin Circle, proven to be true in each new reading experience, for we evaluatively respond to them. These are examples from the sphere of scientific production, with highly positive consequences. As Bakhtin reminds us, “[I]n the act of understanding, a struggle occurs that results in mutual change and enrichment” (1986, p.142).⁵ In addition, with open science, this (evaluative) dialogue is extended to various readers, even gaining a didactic aspect for all those involved, because we consider “evaluation as a necessary aspect of dialogic cognition” (BAKHTIN, 1986, p.161).⁶

Let us then move on to the articles of Bakhtiniana 18.3 and dialogue with them. As stated on the journal’s website, our journal highlights discourse studies with emphasis on Bakhtinian studies in Brazil and abroad; in the journal’s focus and scope, we read that, although we specialize in dialogic studies, we gladly welcome dialoging with other areas of knowledge.

We begin, then, with the presentation of the articles by mentioning one that comes from the medical area: “The Clinical Encounter as a Prototypical Bakhtinian Act” by Carlos Eduardo Pompilio (Universidade de São Paulo - Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo, SP, Brasil [University of São Paulo - Medical Faculty General Hospital, São Paulo, SP, Brazil]) and Fabiana Buitor Carelli (Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas da Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brasil [Faculty of Philosophy, Letters and Human Sciences of the University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil]). The authors propose an understanding of the encounter between doctor and patient as a responsible Bakhtinian act, based on Bakhtin’s prima philosophia expounded in Toward a Philosophy of the Act, a work of scholar´s youth (1920-1924). Critically dialoguing with a traditionalist perspective that sees the clinical encounter from an externalist and extrinsic perspective to the event itself, aiming at quantifiable outcomes, the authors demonstrate how it is possible to understand the clinical event from within, that is, from an intersubjectively constructed world, providing a more ethical and humane type of medicine. This reading of the Bakhtinian text by the medical area certainly shows us the breadth and scope of the understanding of the Circle’s work in diverse ideological spheres, expanding the scope of studies of discourse and medical ethics.

The following three articles propose a theoretical dialogue with the Circle’s work. The first of them is “About the Unity of Culture: Dialogues Between Cassirer, Medvedev, Vološinov and Bakhtin”, by Ludmila Kemiac (Universidade Federal de Campina Grande - UFCG, Paraíba, Brasil [Federal University of Campina Grande - UFCG, Paraíba, Brazil]). Through a deep and detailed study, Kemiac explores the concept of culture in the work of Ernst Cassirer and then puts it in dialogue with the texts of P. N. Medvedev, Valentin N. Vološinov and Mikhail M. Bakhtin. It especially highlights the contributions of each one of them to the understanding of culture, and, more especially, the innovation of the latter, when facing life, science, and art not only as cultural and semiotic phenomena, but above all as evaluative ones.

The focus of the next study, by Filipe Almeida Gomes (Universidade Estadual de Minas Gerais - UEMG, Minas Gerais, Brasil [State University of Minas Gerais - UEMG, Minas Gerais, Brazil]), is also evaluative, but this time comparing the notion of value in the Saussurean theory with the work of the Russian thinker by means of the article “The Issue of Value in Saussure and Vološinov”. The theory of value in Ferdinand de Saussure is resumed from the perspective of Simon Bouquet’s understanding, who highlights different types of value. The work of Vološinov is put in dialogue with such types of values with the main objective of disseminating Vološinov´s “theory of social evaluation in the word.”

The next proposed theoretical dialogue, also with dialogic theory, is found in the article “Analytical Potential of Discourse Genres for the Variationist Studies,” based on research carried out by Marcela Langa Lacerda (Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo-UFES/ES, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brasil [Federal University of Espírito Santo-UFES/ES, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil]), Edair Maria Görski (Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina-UFSC/SC, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil [Federal University of Santa Catarina-UFSC/SC, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil]) and Sandra Mara Moraes Lima (Universidade Federal de São Paulo-UNIFESP/SP, Guarulhos, São Paulo, Brasil [Federal University of São Paulo-UNIFESP/SP, Guarulhos, São Paulo, Brazil]). The text shows how Bakhtin’s notion of speech genres can be relevant to third-wave variationist studies, which deal notably with style, as these studies require an understanding of the social and formal constitution of genres.

The analysis of a cultural phenomenon that occurs in the North Region of the Brazil, in the city of Macapá (Amapá), but is still little-known in other regions, is found in the article “‘The Drum Speaks, the Word Creates:’ Evaluative Resonances in Ladrão De Marabaixo Aonde tu vai rapaz [Thief of Marabaixo Where’d Ya Go Man].” The authors Gercilene Vale dos Santos and Márcia Cristina Greco Ohuschi, both from Universidade Federal do Pará - UFPA, Belém, Pará, Brasil [Federal University of Pará - UFPA, Belém, Pará, Brazil], chose the line ‘Where’d ya go man’ to analyze such a cultural expression from a dialogic perspective, showing, in the end, the conflicts between institutionalized and everyday ideologies, and highlighting the values of afro-descendancy, identity, resistance, resilience and re-existence in this popular manifestation.

There is a lot of talk about internationalization in the educational field and, in this regard, it is important to know how English teachers have positioned themselves in relation to the issue. This is the focus of the study written by Samuel de Carvalho Lima (Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Norte - IFRN, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil [Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Norte - IFRN, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil]), entitled “The Academic Discourse of English Teachers on Internationalization During the ABRALITEC International Seminar.” Taking as corpus of analysis abstracts produced for Seminário Internacional da Associação Brasileira de Professores de Língua Inglesa da Rede Federal de Ensino Básico, Técnico e Tecnológico (2020) [2020 International Seminar of the Brazilian Association of English Language Teachers in the Federal Network of Basic, Technical and Technological Education], the analysis, under the dialogical perspective, indicates that there are two points of view on internationalization that complement each other: one focused on the comprehensive education and another for institutional conformation in an international scenario.

The text “Thematic and Ideological Peculiarities of Zhumeken Nazhimedenov’s Literary Works,” by Rakymberdi Zhetibay, Orken Imangali and Baltabay Abdigaziuly (Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Republic of Kazakhstan) presents us with some of the poetry of this little-known Kazakh poet. This article is followed by a review of the translation of Dominique Maingueneau’s work, Enunciados aderentes [Adherent Utterances], written by José Wesley Vieira Matos and Maria das Dores Nogueira Mendes, both from Universidade Federal do Ceará - UFC, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil [Federal University of Ceará - UFC, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil].

The last text of the issue is written by members of Bakhtiniana’s Editorial Board - Carlos Gontijo Rosa, Maria Helena Cruz Pistori, and Paulo Rogério Stella, identified below. That is because it was our intention to know a little about what the reviewers themselves think about the reviews open for publication, and also about the interaction with authors. For this, we interviewed Prof. Dr. Bruno Rêgo Deusdará Rodrigues, professor at Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro [State University of Rio de Janeiro] and CNPq Research Productivity Scholar - Level 2, who, in addition to being a constant (and precious) reviewer of articles for Bakhtiniana, has also published an article in the journal, developing, therefore, a certain intimacy with the journal procedures. The answers given by Deusdará Rodrigues show in-depth reflection on the subject and help us understand the importance of the procedure. It is really worth reading it!

As can be seen, Bakhtiniana continues to advance on the path of open science, embracing ethical commitment, scientific rigor, sharing and transparency in research. Therefore, we invite everyone - readers, authors and collaborators - to respond actively to these texts, savoring and including this set in their research. The issue brings together fifteen Brazilian researchers from twelve universities and institutions (USP, UFES, UFSC, UNIFESP, UEMG, UFPA, UFCG, IFRN, UFC, UFAC, UFAL, PUC-SP), and three researchers from Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Kazakhstan.

We are once again greatly indebted to the valuable and constant support, help and recognition from CNPq, by means of Chamada CNPq Nº 12/2022 - Programa Editorial, Proc. 402109/2022-0 [Call CNPq 12/2022 - Editorial Program, Process 405404/2022-0], and from PUC-SP by means of Plano de Incentivo à Pesquisa (PIPEq)/ Publicação de Periódicos (PubPer-PUCSP) - 1º semestre de 2023/ Solicitação 26267 [Incentive Research Plan (PIPEq)/ Academic Journal Publication (PubPer-PUCSP) - 1st Semester of 2023 / Request 26267].

REFERÊNCIAS

• BAKHTIN, M. Apontamentos de 1970-1971. In: BAKHTIN, M. Estética da criação verbal. 4. ed. Introdução e tradução do russo Paulo Bezerra. São Paulo: Martins Fontes, 2006. p.367-392.
• BAKHTIN, M. Metodologia das ciências humanas. In: BAKHTIN, M. Estética da criação verbal. 4. ed. Introdução e tradução do russo Paulo Bezerra. São Paulo: Martins Fontes, 2006. p.393-410.
• BAKHTIN, M. Problemas da poética de Dostoiévski. 4. ed. Tradução direta do russo, notas e prefácio de Paulo Bezerra. Rio de Janeiro: Forense, 2008, p.121.

• 1
  BAKHTIN, M. Problems of Dostoevsky’s Poetics. Edited and Translated by Caryl Emerson. Introduction by Wayne C. Booth. Menneapolis and London: University of Minnesota Press, 1984, p.106.
• 2
  Also in completely accordance with the recommendations of Elsevier and of the Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors from the Committee on Publication Ethics - COPE (Cf. https://revistas.pucsp.br/index.php/bakhtiniana/etica )
• 3
  All calls are in the Announcements page of the journal at https://revistas.pucsp.br/index.php/bakhtiniana/announcement
• 4
  Guide for Continuous Publication of articles in journals indexed by SciELO http://old.scielo.org/local/Image/guiarpass.pdf
• 5
  BAKHTIN, M. From Notes Made in 1970-71. In: BAKHTIN, M. Speech Genres and Other Late Essays. 4. ed. Translated by Vern W. McGee. Edited by Caryl Emerson and Michael Holquist. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1986, pp.132-158.
• 6
  BAKHTIN, M. Toward a Methodology for the Human Sciences. In: BAKHTIN, M. Speech Genres and Other Late Essays. 4. ed. Translated by Vern W. McGee. Edited by Caryl Emerson and Michael Holquist. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1986, pp.159-172.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  18 Sept 2023
• Date of issue
  Jul-Sep 2023