Oliveira M.S., Bortoleto M.A. & Nunomura M.: LANGUAGE IN ARTISTIC Vol. 10 Issue 2: 299 - 312

LANGUAGE IN ARTISTIC : NOTES ABOUT “GYMISH”

Mauricio Santos Oliveira1, Marco Antonio Coelho Bortoleto2, Myrian Nunomura3

1Centre for Physical Education and Sport, Federal University of Espírito Santo, 2Faculty of Physical Education, State University of Campinas, Brazil 3School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Original article Abstract

This article aims to present and discuss the lexicon of through a case study conducted at a gymnasium for high performance Women’s Artistic Gymnastics. As such, we have carried out an analysis of the communication between the protagonists of the study, gymnasts and coaches, with the objective of exemplifying how this lexicon has formed into a part of the sport’s cultural heritage. The data indicates that words and expressions specific to Artistic Gymnastics exhibit historical and cultural traits and, in some cases, transcend the limits of this sport when incorporated into society.

Keywords: Lexicon, communication, sports culture, gymnastics.

INTRODUCTION

It was back in 2003 at the World within Artistic Gymnastics (AG). With its Championships in Anaheim, in the United dissemination, the expression Arabian States of America, that a salto with a 180° double pike advanced beyond the milieu of rotation along the longitudinal axis followed gymnastics and is used today by the by a double salto forward in the pike population in distinct contexts, from position was presented in Women’s Artistic television commercials to political news Gymnastics (WAG) competition for the first stories, as can be observed in the following time by the Brazilian gymnast Daiane dos examples: Santos during a exercise routine. This - Burst mode [on the camera] is also great new acrobatic element, Arabian double for capturing an entire sequence. Go ahead pike, contributed to an unprecendented gold and record your friend’s “Arabian double medal in world competition for Brazil, and pike” from beginning to end. Later, tell the was subsequently included in the Code of story with your fotos (Apple, 2013). Points (CoP). - In a matter of seconds, she [Luana The unprecedented nature of the world Piovanni1] did an Arabian double pike and title contributed to Brazilian society changed the subject (Cordioli, 2013). learning about the “Dos Santos I”, the name by which this acrobatic element is known 1 Luana Piovanni is a Brazilian famous actress. Science of Gymnastics Journal 299 Science of Gymnastics Journal

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- (...) but stating that the company should Madigan (2009), it is one of the most not make any move towards receiving the important symbols for the modern society. newer generations is a backwards Arabian Kowalikowa (2009) states that language double pike (Galisteu, 2013). permits the establishment of interpersonal - If that happens, [Miguel] Arraes2 will give communication through cognitive processes an Arabian double pike in his casket that make it possible to express feelings, (Palazzo-Martini, 2013). emotions and sensations. The author It is evident that the expression cited highlights that, “there are no human became a metaphor for doing something activities which can dispense with extremely difficult or unprecedented and is language” (Kowalikowa, 2009, p. 63). It can being used in many different situations. This be written or oral and take on non-verbal fact corroborates Saporta (1990) who states forms like Morse code, sign language, and that language promotes the interaction conventional signaling systems. In this way, between sports and other contexts, like the AG has also developed its own codes to political and the social. Indeed, the author afford greater efficiency in the mentions that these phenomema influence communication between its specialists. and reflect upon each other. Sapir (1949) draws attention to the fact The extrapolation of sports language to that language has become a fundamental other contexts is certainly influenced in element for the study of culture, as it is large part by the mass media. Authors such capable of revealing unique aspects of a as Lipónski (2009) state that sports media determined group. According to Ullman are increasingly popular and that sports (1991, p. 122), “it should be considered as occupy a high percentage of TV and radio something part of human beings, something time. Consequently, it exerts a strong inherent. Language emerged with man, and influence on listeners and spectators. man emerged with language”. Internet access has also contributed sharply Despite being an inherent and to the dissemination of information distinctive characteristic of human beings, surrounding sports phenomena and AG language does not constitute an instinctive (Bortoleto, Ferreira, & Rodrigues 2011). and biological mecanism. Marconi and According to Oliveira (2010), names like Presotto (2010) describe the learning , , and the process necessary to embody language and Hypólito siblings (Daniele and Diego) are consequently the culture in which the nationally recognized and circulate through individual is inserted. different vehicles of communication with As previously cited, just as with a certain regularity. Recently, , majority of sports, AG has its own 2012 Olympic champion on the vocabulary, which we call Gymish. It can apparatus, should also be added to this list. sound like a foreign language to those who Due to this increased media presence are not used to hearing it (Gutman, 1996). and the resulting popularity of AG, This specific lexicon embraces elements Brazilians are increasingly able to recognize that are important within the context of this the meaning of handstand or the sport and make it possible to name things, aforementioned Arabian double pike, describe events, and express the feelings, something infeasible a short while ago values and norms that are specific to it. We (Lopes, 2009). In this way, it appears that believe that when hearing the expression the language specific to AG has begun to Arabian double pike for the first time, extrapolate the sporting context and reached individuals who do not belong to the context the society in general. of AG must experience the sensation that In fact, language is an inherent part of they are hearing a different language or, social life and, according to Delaney and rather, that they do not understand the meaning of the codes.

2 Fomer Brazilian politician. Science of Gymnastics Journal 300 Science of Gymnastics Journal

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Delaney and Madigan (2009) explain whether they are gymnasts, coaches, that groups belonging to subcultures modify scholars, or even those who appreciate AG. the language in order to meet their own needs. The authors continue, stating that, METHODS “this is especially true in the world of sports, as all sports utilize language in a We have opted for a case study symbolic manner relevant to their domain” approach in the development of this (Delaney & Madigan, 2009, p. 74). These research. Yin (2009) states that this research changes emerge from the elements, terms, method is used in different fields and and expressions that were developed and situations with the intention of contributing established by the practicioners, coaches, to the knowledge of individuals, groups, and fans, and sometimes by the media. social and political organizations. In fact, as Lipónski (2009) highlights, Furthermore, according to the author, the sports give rise to numerous amounts of method allows for the investigator’s holistic jargon which can be linked to coaching, to viewpoint on the events of daily life, such as terminology for training methods, to the life cycles, the behavior of small groups, language of sports science, to sports organizational and management processes, medicine, and to the slang terms of athletes school performance, and international and fans. Kowalikowa (1997) adds that relations, among others. language in sports also owes its peculiarity Merriam (1998) states that a case study to factors like sporting goods, accessories, that has its focus on cultural aspects can be and the types of relationships that exist labeled as an ethnographic case study. This between participants. investigation method utilizes techniques These aspects make the language of traditionally attributed to ethnographic sports a component that is distinct from research (observation, interview, document other forms of language, since according to analysis) to provide a deep description of a Kowalikowa (2009, p. 63), “each human unit aiming to understand its idiosyncrasies, activity affects its linguistic expression in but without losing the characteristics of a terms of vocabulary, phonology, syntax and case study (André, 1995). phraseology” whose features, as stated by Bogdan and Biklen (1994) portray the Sedlaczek (2009, p. 121), “are visible ethnographic case study as an observational mainly on the lexical level: names of approach in which the focus of the research disciplines, activities, equipment, places, is centered on a specific organization or on etc.”. It’s important to highlight that the some other unique aspect of this specialized language, as Kocourek (1991) organization. This type of study aims for points out, are subcategories of broader discovery and allows new elements to language. And they are used by a group that emerge throughout the development of the shares the same interests. In this direction, research, a fact which demands that the Sager, Dungworth and MacDonald (1980, p. search for new inquiry and answers always 74) say that these specialized language “are occurs in consideration of the context in semi-autonomous, complex, semiotic which the phenomenon is situated. systems based on and derived from general In order for the reseach to meet its language”. established objectives, we have used three Starting from the assumptions presented data collection techniques: bibliographic earlier, this article seeks to identify and and documental research, participant discuss the lexicon unique to AG and, more observation, and informal interview. The specifically, to WAG. This will allow us to period of observation prioritized the enlarge our knowledge of sports phenomena preparation for the 2012 Olympics as well as facilitate the communication in the months of March, April, May and between all of these involved in this sport, June. After this major sporting event had ended, the observations resumed in

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September with a total of 16 visits and 85 accomplished by way of language hours. (Sedlaczek, 2009). It is possible to observe The gymnasium selected for this study the existence of language variation in the was a training site for WAG team which had sporting context since ancient times. athletes that competed in the state and According to Lipónski (2009), the names of Brazilian championships during the 2009- sports equipment, as well as their 2012 Olympic cycle in four different descriptions and reflections about them, categories: pre-infant (9-10 years), infant have been preserved in texts from different (11-12 years), juvenile (13-15 years) and periods in history, such as the Classical Era. adult (16 years and older)3. Over the years, the study of language When we contemplate the sporting has collaborated with the understading of career of the gymnasts included in this sports and sporting behavior, principly microculture, we find athletes that had because it has facilitated understading competed in World Cups, Panamerican between interlocutors, as well as outside Games, , World observers (Blanchard, 1995). Championships and . Kowalikowa (2009) states that in the The focus of this research was restricted daily sporting routine there is a gamut of to the training squads that aimed the high interactions that are influenced by the roles performance gymnastics, which trained that the interlocutors play (athletes, coaches, from Monday to Saturday. The gymnasts judges, spectators, medical team, managers, from the pre-infant (n = 1) and infant (n = 9) among others). According to the author, the categories trained for 30 hours a week. The interlocutors develop a discourse that juvenile (n = 3) and adult (n = 6) gymnasts, frequently reveals specific patterns and can in addition to the activities carried out in the generate a unique lexicon, which in AG can gym, had weight training in a different be known as Gymish. location. Furthermore, some athletes had Upon analysing the daily routine of a physical therapy, in order to prevent and high performance WAG gymnasium, we recover from injuries. have observed that some of the specific The coaching staff observed consisted patterns cited by Kowalikowa (2009) have of three renowned professionals with both emerged in the nomenclature of the national and international experience in the apparatus and equipment used during sport. Upon analysis of the coaches’ training. However, others are synthetic resumés, participation in the following terms employed to substitute the complex competitions could be observed: State description of the gymnastics elements Championships, Brazilian Championships, stipulated by the Code of Points (CoP). South American Games, World Cups, and We know that floor, , Olympic Games. vaulting table, and are the The study was approved by the names attributed to each specific apparatus Committee for Ethics in Research of the in WAG. Furthermore, we can also add School of Physical Education and Sport at some auxiliary equipment used in the day- the University of São Paulo (Report to-day activities of gymnastics to this list number: 225.814). (Nunomura et al., 2009). Examples of such equipment are bar straps, parallettes, floor bar, roller wheel, box, tumble track, RESULTS among others. These examples provide Oral language evidence for the kind of nomenclature Sports, as a sociocultural phenomenon, explained by Kowalikowa (2009) and combine communication processes that are establish a pattern, which is specific to this sport. In general, the nomenclature of the 3 Categories stablished by Brazilian Gymnastics apparatus can be considered closer to the Confederation. Science of Gymnastics Journal 302 Science of Gymnastics Journal

Oliveira M.S., Bortoleto M.A. & Nunomura M.: LANGUAGE IN ARTISTIC Vol. 10 Issue 2: 299 - 312 public when it is associated with the levels in the divisions of sports language, language of sports, or rather, when it since we can identify the common language transcends the gymnastics milieu. Authors among sports played on courts or in team such as Bergh and Ohlander (2012) clarify sports. Moreover, we could also add the that the delimitations between languages, common language of gymnastics. In Figures the language of sports and language specific 1 and 2 that follow, we can observe these to a particular sport are porous. They cite questions. Tingbjörn (2003) who highlights other

Figure 1. Language of AG.

Figure 2. The language of AG as a componente of the language. Adapted from Bergh and Ohlander (2012).

In some situations observed during the Se você não marcar a parada não irá valer. / If field research, we determined that the use of you don’t hold your stop (handstand), it won’t count! words belonging to the lexicon of (Você) está fazendo a chamada de lado. / Portuguese also exercised a specific You’re doing the call (hurdle) to the side. semantic function that could pose difficulties for individuals who are not part Pode ir pro caninho. / You can go to the little of the context of this sport, as can be pipe (bar straps). verified below. It is important to highlight that we opted for the literal translation from Vai pra cravar o salto. / Go to stick (stoping Portuguese to English, and in parentheses landing) the vault. the meaning in Gymish. Abraça o cavalo. / Hug the horse (the horse as apparatus).

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score. For this reason, the coach says, “It Pensa na posição da canoinha. / Think about won’t count.” the little canoe position (hollow position). In the second phrase, the word chamada (literally: call) represents the Salta mais depois que levanta da vela. Quero ver você fazendo força nessa perna! / hurdle movement made up of an action, Jump more after getting up from the candle which is executed before a pre-acrobatic or (candlestick position). I want to see you pushing with acrobatic element. In the following phase, a this leg! caninho (literally: little pipe) is a resource The preceeding quotes were taken from used for practicing certain elements on the our field observation notes (FN). In the first uneven bars. It is made from a piece of PVC sentence, the expression marcar a parada pipe and fabric straps, which are wrapped (literally: hold your stop) means to execute around the bar and also around the wrists of the handstand element (inverted support) the gymnast (see FIGURE 3). This and maintain the static position for at least mechanism allows the gymnast to hold on to two seconds. If this requirement is not met, the bar and practice the elements with the judge will not consider the value of the increased safety and decreased strain on the element when calculating the difficulty hands.

Figure 3. Details of the straps and the PVC pipe “caninho” around the bar. Source: Gibson (2016).

The word cravar (literally: to stick) is We could also add other expressions used continually in AG and means to carry that were repeated throughout the training, out a landing or dismount with control and such as point your toes, tighten your bottom, without any additional steps or wobbles. In kick up your heels, strong cast, be stiff, other words, it means to land with the feet you’re throwing your head, wait to release, sticked in the floor/. Cavalo (literally: leave your feet on the bar longer, look at horse), the next term on the list, alludes to your hands, open your legs more, shoulders the apparatus used in AG, which got this down, among others. We have noticed a name due to its origin during the Roman great deal of similarity between these Empire, when it was used for training expressions and those explained by soldiers in the cavalry. During that period Bortoleto (2004, p. 270) in the study of this piece of equipment had the same men’s artistic gymnastics (MAG), “tighten physical characterstics as the animal, but your bottom, point your toes, lift your head, with time they were excluded as the uses of push your hands, suck in your gut, fly more, this apparatus for motor development hold your hollow position”. progressed (Oliveira & Bortoleto, 2011). Kowalikowa (2009) asserts that the Finally, canoinha (literally: little canoe) and variety in terminology and semantic vela (literally: candle) are basic body specificity are present in sport discourse as a positions used in AG which are commonly whole. The author adds further examples used in physical training exercises. Science of Gymnastics Journal 304 Science of Gymnastics Journal

Oliveira M.S., Bortoleto M.A. & Nunomura M.: LANGUAGE IN ARTISTIC Vol. 10 Issue 2: 299 - 312 from sports such as football, baseball, and language of the CoP inspired many of these weight lifting. terms, however, others were coined and Even though a large part of the consolidated from inside the gymnasiums. vocabulary of the athletes and coaches Another example, from those listed belong to the lexicon of the Portuguese before, exposes the particularities of language, many key words are specific to Brazilian AG. In Brazil, we use the word the AG universe. Upon analysis of the twist in a different way compared to communication between gymnasts and English-speaking countries. Instead of coaches in the study, we noticed that the representing a rotation on the transversal interlocutors frequently resort to this axis with a longitudinal spin, the twist in specific language and, for those who do not Brazil consists of a salto with 180° on the belong to the context of this sport, longitudinal axis followed by a forward understanding is compromised, as it is rotation on the transversal axis. The almost like a foreign language. We were Brasilian twist represents the element able to verify this in the accounts taken from known as the Arabian in English-speaking the field notes: countries. The example cited above exposes, as You are not doing the snap down when you go for well, the internationalism that, according to the Arabian double. Kowalikowa (2009), is present in language

The Jäger was better. of sports. The author relates the great influence of English on different sports. One Go do the Tkachev. of the most frequently used words in the gymnasium context is from English: flic- You can warm up for your vault. Don’t waste any flac. In addition to flic-flack, we observed time on the . along the research the use of the term layout That’s a good free hip circle! Be careful not to go (step out) which is a back salto where the too far! landing occurs with one foot at the time. Moreover, we were able to point out the If you do the Tsukahara like this, it’s going to be influence of French language in WAG, considered as a pike. mainly, in leaps, hops, jumps and dance You are throwing your head when you do the flic. elements whose origins are in ballet:

Open your legs more on the swich leap! The coach observes and asks the gymnast to correct the wolf jump sequence and the sissone on the beam. Did you do the Stalder? On the floor, the children practiced doing a chassé followed by a jeté. The language distinction between AG and the other sports occurs mostly at the On the other hand, the German origin of lexical level, since AG has its own ample this sport (Fédération Internationale de vocabulary. This fact collaborates with the Gymnastique, 1981; Goodbody, 1982), in distinction and cultural identity of the sport the work of Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, “father (Lipoński, 2009). of gymnastics”, also comes out through the Biderman (2001) confirms that the AG’s vocabulary. The word Kippe, lexicon is related to the process of naming recurrent in training for the uneven bars, and with the comprehension/perception of was used consistantly by the subjects in this reality, in addition to constituting a form of study (Figure 4). register. In the case of the accounts cited previously, we observed that these were You are bending your arms in the kip! made up of words and expressions that were understandable to those who were inserted How many kips did you do? Question asked by the coach. into the context of AG and favor/facilitate the communication process. The unique Science of Gymnastics Journal 305 Science of Gymnastics Journal

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It’s no use making the transition and not continuing. by the coach. Do the kip and cast to handstand. Point highlighted

Figure 4. Kippe element. Source: Tonry (1973).

Despite the importance of the German Hit it!!! Hit the cast to handstand!!! language in WAG, we have observed that Firm!!!Firm!!!!Stay stiff!!! The coach chants while observing a series. examples from this language such as stütz, stützkehre and überschlag are utilized with Strong!!!! Better!!!! Coach Diego provides greater frequency in the men’s gymnastics, incentive. quite probably due to the historical development of MAG and the origin of Open!!! Open!!! Open!!! The coach speaks while observing the execution of an element on the tumble these gymnastics elements. track. In this way, we notice that Gymish preserves its relationship to the origin of AG Right on!!! The coach gives incentive while and that communication among those who observing the sequence of elements in an acrobatic participate in this sport highlights a cultural pass. process, since it has suffered under the Go!! The young gymnasts yell out before the music influence of the periods and history in AG, starts. from its beginnings to present day. Just as in Kowalikowa’s (2008) report Good!!!! Coach Diego yells out after watching the on the language of sports, in the discourse execution of elements on the bar. used in WAG, we notice sentences with This last expression used by Coach specific syntactic constructions using verbs Diego, was also cited in Bortoleto’s (2004) in the imperative or interjections that, study in which the author reveals that “when according to the author, substitute more a gymnast performs an element or an elaborate sentences. exercise in a ‘brilliant’ way, both the coach

Stay!!!! The other gymnasts scream out in chorus and frequently the other athletes use the while observing a gymnast executing series on the expression good”. This kind of expression, beam at the moment she carries out a flight element. as well as the other imperative expressions cited above, is common in the competition Tight!!! Legs tight!!! Hit it hard!!! Coach Diego environment and is used by coaches, chants out the series as the gymnast Irina carries out her floor routine. atheletes, and, in some cases, by the spectators, especially when the crowd is Grab it!!! A teammate screams when the gymnast made up of people who follow the sport and grabs the bar after a release. know about its peculiarities. Throughout the observations and Push it!!! Girls watching the vault give incentive. dialogues established with the protagonists Let’s go!!!! Gymnasts scream out, both men and of the study, we determined that the specific women, during the gymnast Laura’s realization of a lexicon of WAG increases each year with suicide drill (resistence training dynamics in which the addition of new elements. According to the gymnast executes the acrobatic passes from the Nunomura (2008), the FIG can name a new floor routine between running intervals). element in the CoP using the gymnast’s name when he/she is the first one to present

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Oliveira M.S., Bortoleto M.A. & Nunomura M.: LANGUAGE IN ARTISTIC Vol. 10 Issue 2: 299 - 312 it in an official competition with good element in the CoP. Even though many execution. In 2017, at the World people attribute the unprecedeented Championship held in Montreal, Canada, 10 inclusion of the first Brazilian element to elements were submitted to the Fédération the gymnast Daiane dos Santos, it was the Internationale de Gymnastique to be athlete Heine Araújo who successfully evaluated for inclusion in the Women’s incorporated a new element for the first time Artistisc Gymnastics CoP (Fédération in the history of Brazilian gymnastics. Internationale de Gymnastique, 2017) Heine wrote her name on the magna carta increasing the lexicon of this sport. of this sport with a salto forward stretched This aspect is a significant particularity with a double twist during her balance beam of this sport. It also allows for the continued routine presented at the 2001 World expansion of Gymish. Since 2002, a Championship in Ghent, (Figure Brazilian gymnast had named a gymnastics 5).

Figure 5. Araujo element in the CoP. Source: adapted from FIG (2013a).

As determined by this sport’s tradition, mankind has been around for three million some of the most popular elements in AG, years, and considering that writing, as it is those that are recognized by the general now, emerged about six throusand years public, were named with the last names of before Christ, it’s possible to say that it their creators: Josef Stalder, Natalia appeared seconds ago in relationship to the Yurchenko, Mitsuo Tsukahara, Natalia existence of humanity (Ullman, 1991, p. Shaposhnikova, Nadia Comaneci, Yelena 127). Shushunova, Bernd Jäger, Eberhard According to Pierce (1999), in addition Gienger, Alexander Tkatchev, among to verbal language and the occident way of others. In addition to the female Brazilian alphabetic coding of Greek origin, there are gymnasts Daiane dos Santos e Heine other forms of codifying the writing. These Araújo, since the beginning of the 21st forms are different from the languages that century, the male gymnasts Sérgio Sasaki, are articulated using alphabets, such as Diego Hypólito and Arthur Zanetti have hieroglyphs, pictograms, and ideograms. also had elements baptized with their names In 1979, the Women’s Artistic in the CoP, revealing the recent Gymnastic Technical Committee published, incorporation of Brazil into the high for the first time, the symbols for the WAG performance of this sport. elements (Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique, 2013a). According to Oliveira Written language: symbols in and Bortoleto (2009), this language system, women’s artistic gymnastics codified by symbols that represent the elements of this sport, seeks to facilitate the For millenia and millenia, mankind registering (notation) of the routines depended primarily on oral language. performed by the gymnasts. Knowing, based on fossil analysis, that

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After years of development and use, the is distinguished from the index and the icon, Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique since it is not dependent on a factual included these symbols for the first time in relationship or on any similarity with its the 1993 edition of the CoP. This fact object. However, this is subject to consolidated its use in AG judging process. internalization in the mind of whoever is At that time, the symbols for each element interpreting it, without which there would and their respective variations were be no meaning. This leads us to the process introduced in the CoP creating a particular of endoculturation (Laraia, 2011). In the way of communication. In fact, the AG case of WAG, the symbols operate in the symbols permit a kind of reading similar to sense that they bring the characteristics of that used in the reading of the Chinese and the elements and/or actions to the mind of Japanese languages, since the meaning of whoever is interpreting them. one action or gymnastics element is inserted Furthermore, the Fédération with one, unique symbol, which allows for Internationale de Gymnastique (2013a) greater agility when observing, registering points out that the objective for adopting the and then reading afterwards. symbols is to improve communication Unlike Portuguese, in which it is between judges, gymnasts, and coaches by necessary to read a word or group of words breaking down the barrier imposed by made up of letters that only make sense traditional language and also favoring when they are grouped together, kanji, the objective evaluation. The transcription of ideograms used in written Japanese, allow the elements allows for making posterior for the direct association between a graphic consultations in case of a discrepancy in symbol and its meaning (Walter, 2011). judges’ scores that exceeds the margin Santaella (2002, p. 25) points out that, established by the CoP or any doubts that “the symbol is associated with the object it might emerge from coaches and gymnasts. represents through an associative habit that This aspect refers to Ullman’s (1991) is processed in the mind of the interpreter concept afirming that all writing has a and which leads the symbol to mean what it mneumonic value, since it allows one’s means”. This reflection demonstrates that memory to be transfered to another. Upon the symbol is connected to its object by writing down the symbols from the routine, virtue of an idea. Complementing this, the judge allows other individuals to Bonfim (2006) shows that the symbol discover the elements presented by the functions as a condensor and evocator of an gymnast, and associate the values and the idea and offers a definite and limited value, execution errors attributed to them. In which aids in the communication between Figure 6, we can visualize the Dos Santos I consciousnesses. For this reason, the symbol element with its respective symbol.

Figure 6. Arabian double pike (Dos Santos I). Source: FIG (2013a).

Using symbols for writing makes it involved with AG. Bortoleto (2004, p. 308) possible to describe complex elements makes it explicit that, “upon representing an quickly, which are understandable to all action with a symbol, one seeks to simplify

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Oliveira M.S., Bortoleto M.A. & Nunomura M.: LANGUAGE IN ARTISTIC Vol. 10 Issue 2: 299 - 312 the registration, the communication, and/or the combination of multiple symbols. In this the comprehension”. For this reason, writing system, we notice that there is a graphic symbols are used to transcribe and certain logic that facilitates the use and transmit, by way of written language, the incorporation of the new elements, as seen gymnastics elements. This permits, for in Table 1. example, the description of a routine with

Table 1 Example of elements and their symbols. Source: FIG (2013a).

ELEMENT SYMBOL

Salto

Double salto

Twist

Double twist

Double salto with a twist

Double salto with a double twist

We have observed that the use of symbols through a series of characteristics, among and their combinations allows for the which are linguistic differences. The author elaboration, with greater precision, of reveals that this distinction allows for messages that register and transmit immediate and empirical observation and information and knowledge of this sport, that, “man has spent a large part of his which would be difficult to represent or history on Earth separated into small describe in words. groups, each one with its own language, its Even though wide use of this kind of own vision of the world, its customs and language was not seen along the field expectations” (Laraia, 2011, p. 72). observations period, this kind of language Throughout this study, we have was present in the coaches’ notations and observed the presence of a terminological or the CoP that was always in the gymnasium lexical repertoire specific to WAG that being consulted by the athletes and their represents a marked characteristic of the sporting mentors. microculture of the high performance We point out that the continued and training gymnasium. We know that, through official use of the symbols during the an accumulative process, man reflects the evaluation process in the competitions knowledge, experiences of his predecessors, motivated all the professionals involved to and becomes an heir to this heritage. In the incorporate them into their day-to-day work. case of our study, the gymnasts and coaches exhibited these traits in their communication CONCLUSIONS process. Just as human language is a cultural According to Laraia (2011), we can product, Gymish can be considered a identify individuals of different cultures product of the sporting culture and, more

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Oliveira M.S., Bortoleto M.A. & Nunomura M.: LANGUAGE IN ARTISTIC Vol. 10 Issue 2: 299 - 312 specifically, of the AG culture. We notice participants, whether they be gymnasts, that this lexicon, specific to WAG, is in a coaches, judges, parents or spectators. constant process of development and receives influences and contributions from all of the individuals that participate in the REFERENCES sport, especially the athletes, coaches, and judges. These protagonists of the AG seek, André, M.E.D. A. (1995). Etnografia by way of a specific language, to meet the da prática escolar [Ethnography in school communicative needs specific to the practice]. Campinas: Papirus. gymnasium and to the competitive context. Apple. (2013, November 10). iSight. We noted, through the FN obtained in Entenda por que o mundo sorri quando olha this study that the very origin of WAG para essa câmera [Understand why the influenced and is reflected in the language world smile when it looks at this camera]. specific to this sport. This aspect was 2013. Retrieved from verified by the utilization of words with http://www.apple.com/br/iphone- origins in the French and German 5s/camera/. languages, which belong to countries that Bergh, G., & Ohlander, S. (2012). Free were determinant in the process of the kicks, dribblers and WAGs. Exploring the development of AG. language of “the people’s game”. Moderna In addition to oral language, we found Språk, 106(1), 11-46. that the need to transcribe and transmit Biderman, M. T. C. (2001). Teoria information about the gymnastics elements linguística: teoria lexical e linguística motivated the development of symbols. This computacional [Linguistic theory: lexical codified system made it possible to theory and computational linguistics] (2rd transcend the barrier of different languages ed.). São Paulo: Martins Fontes. present in the universe of countries that Blanchard, K. (2002). The participate in AG competitive scene. anthropology of sport. In Coakley, J., & The symbols are understood Dunning, E. (Eds.) Handbook of Sports internationally and make it possible to Studies. Londres: SAGE. quickly transmit information at the exact Bogdan, R., & Biklen, S. (1994). moment of evaluation during the Investigação qualitativa em educação: uma competition which, in the opinion of the introdução à teoria e aos métodos Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique [Qualitative research in education: an (2013a), makes the process more objective, introduction to theory and methods]. Porto: since it permits further consultation in case Porto Editora. of any doubts. Bonfim, M. (2006). Pensar e dizer: Finally, we consider oral language, as estudo do símbolo no pensamento e na well as the elements symbols and semantic linguagem [Think and say: study of symbol peculiarities, to be worthy of attention in in thought and language] (2rd. ed.). São future research. We would also add the need Paulo: Casa do Psicólogo. for investigations that contemplate non- Bortoleto, M. A. C. (2004). La lógica verbal language, which makes it possible to interna de lagimnasia artística masculina explain the execution of the elements and (GAM) y estudio etnográfico de um the feedback on errors of execution during gimnasio de alto rendimiento [The internal training. logic of men ́s artistic gymnastics and an Dialogue with different knowledge ethnographic study of a high level gym]. fields, principally the ones of linguistics and Doctoral dissertation, University of Lleida, semiotics, could deepen our study, which is Spain. rich with data and information that has Bortoleto, M. A. C., Ferreira, M. C., & potencial to contribute to the better Rodrigues, R. G. S. A. (2011) A influência understanding of the AG and its da mídia impressa sobre a prática da

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