Intercultural Communication Studies XIII:3 2004 Leite A Kaleidoscopic Vision of São Paulo in the Seventies: Analysis of a Dialogue Between Informants Marli Quadros Leite University of São Paulo, Brazil INTRODUCTION The University of São Paulo houses one of the centers of the Project on the Study of the Urban Cultured Norm of São Paulo city. This project is known as PROJECT NURC/SP 1 - USP center. This paper is involved with this project. The purpose of the project is the study of the linguistic discursive experiences in the spoken language of São Paulo citizens. It includes the linguistic study of the characteristics of the cultured norm in various communicative situations and the analysis and description of the discursive strategies used by the citizens in communicative situations. FOCUS OF THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH Influenced by populist ideas, many linguists react negatively to the study of the cultured norm because they believe it is a prejudice against the popular norm. These linguists seem to forget that one of the major tasks of scientific research is to circumscribe well the object of study in order to gather results that are consistent and precise. Thus, while some researchers have chosen to study other norms of the spoken language, those involved in this project are committed to research on the cultured norm of São Paulo citizens 2 . Consequently, the investigators of this project consider their foremost task to be the study of the Portuguese spoken language in Brazil as used by persons of culture in the city of São Paulo. That choice was a scientific one, made from an empirical observation, and it is not intended to devalue the study of the language of the other classes. When a choice is made, there is a necessary exclusion. If the choice was the study of the popular language, the cultured norm would be excluded and it would not devalue the language of the upper classes. Therefore, one should not misunderstand the focus of this project. It does not embody an attitude of superiority nor is it an attempt to devalue the speech of other classes within the city. PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH Through the study of one of the dialogues of the NURC Project, it is possible to show how speakers reveal themselves and the cities in which they live. This analysis is supported by a dialogue, which occurred in the 70s, between two siblings, in the presence of 1The other center is located at UNICAMP. 2 Those who want to know the history of the NURC Project/Brazil, can consult Castilho (1990) or Cunha (s.d.) Information on the NURC/SP – USP center can be found at www.flch.usp.br/dlcv/nurc. 100