De "Rede Brasileira de Ensino no Exterior" a "Rede Brasil Cultural": processos e percursos na institucionalização da Divisão de Promoção da Língua Portuguesa (DPLP)

Based on the History of Linguistic Ideas, the Discourse Analysis from a materialistic perspective and the Semantics of the Event, we investigate in this article the institutionalization of the Division of Portuguese Language Promotion (DPLP), subordinated to the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). We focus particularly on the history and functioning of the Brazilian Cultural Network, coordinated by this division, analyzing, for instance, the substitution of the designation "Center for Brazilian Studies" for "Brazilian Cultural Centers" and changes in the definition of "lecturer". We conclude that, despite a strong process of institutionalization of actions taken by the MFA to promote Portuguese abroad, there is not an effective networking of the so-called "Brazilian Cultural Network".