Abordagem semiotica da questao da representacao documentaria obtida atraves de instrumentos comutadores, diferenciando-a das demais modalidades de representacao da area. Parte-se do pressuposto de que as representacoes documentarias constituem uma etapa determinada do processo global de analise documentaria - caracterizada como disciplina de natureza metodologica - e que elas devem funcionar, globalmente, como instrumentos de comunicacao. Avaliam-se algumas linguagens documentarias tradicionais face a sua capacidade de promover a representacao, a normalizacao de vocabulario e a comunicacao de informacoes. Frente as limitacoes constatadas das linguagens documentarias em exercerem de fato as funcoes que lhe sao associadas, propoe-se as terminologias especificas como seu universo de referencia. Obtem-se, assim, linguagens de natureza enciclopedica, suficientemente potentes para promover o tratamento, a recuperacao e a circulacao de informacoes documentarias

This paper is a semiotic approach to documentary representation through commuting tools which distinguish these representations from the other in the area. It is pressupposed that documentary representations constitute a particular phase in Documentary Analysis' global process - characterized as a methodological subject - and that they must work, globally, as communication tools. Some traditional Documentary Languages are evaluated on the basis of their capacity for promoting representation, vocabulary standardization and communication of information. Due to Documentary Language limitations to exert the functions associated to them, specific terminologies are proposed as their universe of reference. Enciclopaedic languages are obtained, strong enough to promote treating, retrieval and dissemination of documentary informations.