Imaginary and representation in the formation of the colonial lexicon of Tocantins

Abstract

The tupi language is responsible for the formation of Brazilian Toponymy in the first centuries after the “finding” of Brazil. In Goiás, former Land of Goyases, the period of entradas e bandeiras expeditions, performed especially by São Paulo settlers, and the expeditions of Jesuits on the Araguaia and Tocantins rivers, promoted the toponymic formation in this region. The truth is that where indigenous people passed and spoke tupi languages, they named the surrounding reality in order to demarcate the areas of the local landscape (physical elements: rivers, streams, mountains etc. and human and/or cultural elements: camps, villages, parishes, etc.) with various interests, including the conquest of territories. This article proposes to offer readings about colonial toponymic formation in the Province of Goiás, bearing in mind the people of the region, particularly, by the Araguaia and Tocantins rivers. Moreover, we intend to present a possible reading of this formation stem from documentary data of the “existence” of indigenous people named Tocantins. Methodological procedures used were bibliographical and documental research (maps and documents from the XVI, XVII and XVIII centuries). Authors as Sampaio (1987), Flores (2009), Dick (2004), Casal (1845), Ferreira (1960, 1977), Palacin, Garcia and Amado (1995) supported the bibliographical research.