Speaking Through Generations: A Method for Analysing Sociolinguistic Profiles

This article presents a methodological approach based on a genealogical tree to examine the linguistic trajectories of speakers. The approach considers both the familial origins of the participants and their interactions within their social networks. Through qualitative analysis, it becomes possible to identify groups of “speaker types,” which can subsequently be used as socially relevant variables. This proposal arises from the need to develop variables that are more closely adapted to the sociolinguistic characteristics of a specific speech community. In this study, the approach is applied to the community of speakers from Artigas, located on the border between Uruguay and Brazil. At the same time, the article aims to present a methodological perspective that may serve as inspiration for similar applications in the study of other linguistic communities and sociolinguistic contexts.