NON-VERBAL LANGUAGES IN XERENTE EDUCATION: THE TRANSMISSION OF KNOWLEDGE THROUGH SILENCE AND OBSERVATION

Abstract

This study investigated the non-verbal practices of teaching and learning in the Xerente culture, highlighting the role of silence, gaze and gestures in the transmission of intergenerational knowledge. The research, of qualitative and bibliographic character, sought to understand how these non-verbal methodologies are configured as legitimate and effective forms of education, challenging paradigms centered on orality. The results showed that these practices, in addition to preserving cultural identity, promote experiential and collective learning, integrating values and practical skills. The impacts of these methodologies on society and academia were discussed, as well as their limitations, such as the absence of direct empirical data, and paths for future studies, including participatory approaches and intercultural investigations, were suggested. The research reaffirms the relevance of indigenous epistemologies to rethink more inclusive and diverse educational models.