Portuguese: A Language That Unites 220 Million People
What unifies Brazil, Portugal, Mozambique, and Macau? These countries and territories are united by the language their residents speak: Portuguese.
Its among the 10 most spoken languages in the world. Portuguese is spoken by over 220 million people spread over 10 countries and states in the world. Only 5% of native Portuguese speakers reside in Portugal.
Portuguese is a widely spoken language. Here are some fascinating facts about the Portuguese language.
Relation To Other Languages
Spanish is closely related to the other , including , , , , , and .
It is generally acknowledged that Portuguese and Spanish speakers can communicate in written form, with varying degrees of mutual intelligibility. of the Spanish and Portuguese languages is remarkably high, and the difficulties of the spoken forms are based more on phonology than on grammatical and lexical dissimilarities. gives estimates of the between related languages in terms of precise percentages. For Spanish and Portuguese, that figure is 89%. Italian, on the other hand is phonologically similar to Spanish, but has a lower lexical similarity of 82%. Mutual intelligibility between Spanish and or between Spanish and is lower still, given lexical similarity ratings of 75% and 71% respectively. Comprehension of Spanish by French speakers who have not studied the language is much lower, at an estimated 45%. In general, thanks to the common features of the writing systems of the Romance languages, interlingual comprehension of the written word is greater than that of oral communication.
The following table compares the forms of some common words in several Romance languages:
A related dialect is , the Judaeo-Spanish of northern Morocco. This too tended to assimilate with modern Spanish, during the Spanish occupation of the region.
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Thus, the Spanish alphabet has the following 27 letters:
- A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, Ñ, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.
English As A Global Language
English has ceased to be an “English language” in the sense of belonging only to people who are ethnically . Use of English is growing country-by-country internally and for international communication. Most people learn English for practical rather than ideological reasons. Many speakers of English in Africa have become part of an “Afro-Saxon” language community that unites Africans from different countries.
Modern English, sometimes described as the first global , is also regarded as the first . English is the world’s most widely used language in newspaper publishing, book publishing, international telecommunications, scientific publishing, international trade, mass entertainment, and diplomacy. English is, by international treaty, the basis for the required and Airspeak, used as of seafaring and aviation. English used to have parity with French and German in scientific research, but now it dominates that field. It achieved parity with as a language of diplomacy at the negotiations in 1919. By the time of the foundation of the at the end of , English had become pre-eminent and is now the main worldwide language of diplomacy and international relations. It is one of six official languages of the United Nations. Many other worldwide international organisations, including the , specify English as a working language or official language of the organisation.
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Cultural Facts About The Portuguese Language
Languages evolve. Seeing that Portuguese speakers spread over several countries and continents, its natural to have variations in the form of Portuguese spoken in each of these locales.
European and Brazilian Portuguese differ quite a bit from one another. Just think about how British English differs from Australian English. Brazil and Portugal are divided by a common language.
While Brazilian and European Portuguese are almost identical, there are differences in grammar, spelling, and the meaning of certain words. One of the biggest differences between the two variants has to be você and tu. Both are singular second-person pronouns equivalent to you in English. In Portugal, você is used in formal settings and tu is used informally. On the other hand, Brazil uses você for both formal and informal situations.
Three Languages You Didnt Know Were Native To Portugal
Though it may not be the most talked-about country in Europe, Portugal has its charms and interesting history very much linked to that of Spain and neighboring countries. The official language of Portugal, Portuguese, is not as widely spoken as its neighbor, Spanish, but due to Portuguese colonization can be found as far as Africa and Asia, plus Brazil in South America. However, just like many of the countries in Europe that were once populated by different kingdoms, each with their own language. Some of these survived and can be found in Portugal to this day.
Here are three languages that originated in Portugal and are still spoken there today:
1. The Mirandese Language
In some parts of northeastern Portugal, you can hear this language being spoken. The Mirandese language belongs to the Astur-Leonese language group, and has had a distinct phonology, syntax, and morphology since before Portugal became Portugal. The ancient Astur-Leonese language of the northern region of Iberia is its ancestor, and though it is distinct from both Portuguese and Spanish linguistically, it does have a lot in common with many Portuguese dialects. As of 2000, there were about 15,000 speakers of Mirandese, and there are three different varieties of it based on where it is spoken. It was officially recognized as a minority language by the Portuguese government in 1999. All speakers of Mirandese are also fluent in Portuguese.
2. Barranquenho
3. Minderico
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History Of The Portuguese Language
Portuguese is a Romance language that was developed over 2,000 years ago when the Romans arrived on the Iberian Peninsula, which is modern-day Portugal and Spain. Roman soldiers arrived speaking Vulgar Latin, a form of spoken Latin, which is the root of all Romance languages.
While Portuguese is a Romance language, the Romans werent alone in influencing Portuguese. After the Roman Empire collapsed, Germanic tribes conquered the Iberian Peninsula, while bringing their languages to the region and adopting some of the Vulgar Latin dialects and culture.
This was followed by the Islamic Moorish invasion of 711 CE, which also influenced the Spanish and Portuguese languages. The Portuguese language was heavily influenced by Arabic during the Moorish invasion.
Despite its rich history and external influences, at its core, Portuguese derives from Vulgar Latin and Medieval Galician.
President Of The German
The Portuguese language, ranked fifth in the world, spoken by some 260 million people worldwide, has contributed to understanding and connection between peoples for over five centuries, especially in Europe, Africa, South America and Southeast Asia, and makes important contributions to social, cultural, economic and political life.
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Executive Director Of The European Centre For Modern Languages Of The Council Of Europedr Sarah Breslin
The working languages of the Council of Europe are English and French. When the Council was founded, English and French were recognized as the languages of diplomacy and as world languages. Unofficially, many other languages are used in small working groups/discussions as a matter of course communication is the point. And respect for cultural and linguistic diversity is a principle of the Council of Europe. Article 10 of the Convention on Human Rights, which is the cornerstone of the Council of Europe, is all about freedom of expression. And multilingualism is very important to the Council of Europe.
Ambassador Executive Secretary Of The Community Of Portuguese Language Countries He Francisco Ribeiro Telles
The CPLP was founded in 1996 and its identity matrix is the Portuguese language. At the time, eight countries got together in Lisbon and decided to create the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries. Id like to point up two elements that make the CPLP a unique and irreplaceable organization. The first is its multicontinental configuration. It is present on four continents, from the Atlantic all the way to the Indian and Pacific oceans. Whats more, there are no territorial barriers between the Portuguese-speaking countries, which says a lot. Each CPLP member state is actively involved in its own dynamic of regional integration.
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What Sign Language Is Used In Portuguese
The Portuguese Sign language is a Portuguese sign language spoken primarily by deaf people. Portugals current Constitution recognizes this right. The Portuguese city of Lisbon was the site of an early Swedish school for the deaf, which DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch DropCatch
Portuguese As A Foreign Language
Portuguese is a mandatory subject in the school curriculum in . Other countries where Portuguese is commonly taught in schools or where it has been introduced as an option include ,, the ,,,,,, and . In 2017, a project was launched to introduce Portuguese as a school subject in . Also, according to Portugal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the language will be part of the school curriculum of a total of 32 countries by 2020. In the countries listed below, Portuguese is spoken either as a native language by vast majorities due to the Portuguese colonial past or as a in bordering and multilingual regions, such as on the border between Brazil and Uruguay & Paraguay, as well as Angola and Namibia. In many other countries, Portuguese is spoken by majorities as a second language. And there are still communities of thousands of Portuguese first language speakers in , , , , etc. due to . In East Timor, the number of Portuguese speakers is quickly increasing as Portuguese and Brazilian teachers are making great strides in teaching Portuguese in the schools all over the island. Additionally, there are many large Portuguese immigrant communities all over the world.
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Common Words And Phrases Of Portuguese Language
Since English is taught in all schools beginning in the first grade, the majority of Portuguese individuals you encounter will know some basic phrases in the language.
Greetingss:Ola , Bom dia , or Boa tarde ,Estou a aprender o Portugues .
Starting with: Com licença or Peço desculpa, mas .
Useful ones: Por favor , Sim , Nao .
Finish: Obrigado/Obrigada , Boa sorte , Tchau or Adeus
A Brief History Of Portuguese
Portuguese is a Romance language that developed over 2,000 years ago in the third century BCE when the Romans arrived at the Iberian Peninsula, a European peninsula primarily comprised of modern-day Portugal and Spain. In 216 BCE, Roman soldiers arrived speaking Vulgar Latin, also called colloquial Latin, which is the form of spoken Latin from which all Romance languages evolved.
The Romans werent alone in their influence on Portuguese. During the collapse of the Roman Empire between 409 CE and 711 CE, the Iberian Peninsula was conquered by Germanic tribes, who both brought their languages to the region and adopted some of the Vulgar Latin dialects and culture. The Moorish invasion of 711 CE also influenced both Spanish and Portuguese. Today, modern Portuguese has between 400 and 800 words of Arabic origin.
In 1143, Portugal was recognized as an independent kingdom. In 1290, the king of Portugal, Denis, created the first university in Lisbon and declared that the spoken language of Vulgar Latin be used and that it should be called Portuguese.
Modern Portuguese evolved from Galician-Portuguese or Old Portuguese, which is now two distinct languages: Galician and Portuguese. Even though they are two separate languages, Galician and Portuguese are similar, with some speakers describing the difference between them as akin to the difference between American and British English.
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Paediatrician At The Wilhelmstift Children’s Hospital In Hamburgdr Diogo Da Silva Passos
Im a native speaker of Portuguese, so I can understand my patients better, including those from countries like Guinea, Angola and Brazil, and build mutual trust, which is the basis of my work as a doctor. I can speak more directly to parents, for example, to convince them that their child needs treatment.
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How Many People Speak Portuguese In The Americas
Brazil has the largest population of Portuguese speakers in the world: 211.2 million. No other country in the Americas even comes close to that number, but there are a few places with significant Portuguese-speaking contingents.
The United States is home to 693,000 Portuguese speakers and Canada has 222,000. In addition to Brazil, a few South American countries have Portuguese-speaking pockets, including Argentina , Paraguay , Uruguay and Venezuela .
Portuguese Only Had 23 Letters Until 2009
Yes, youre reading that right. The letters, k,w, and y werent a part of the Portuguese alphabet until recently. In words having k, the Portuguese would swap the k with qu, while w and y sounds were only found in foreign proper nouns.
In 2009, Portuguese-speaking countries across the globe came together to sign a new Orthographic Agreement. This agreement standardized the spellings across different variations of the language and introduced the letters k,w, and y.
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How Widely Is English Spoken In Portugal
One of the most frequently asked questions on Portugalist is: how widely is English spoken in Portugal? Can I get by with English or do I really need to learn Portuguese?
You may have travelled or lived in other European countries like France or Spain where English isnt always spoken. Portugals not like that. English is widely spoken, especially in parts of the country that are very tourist-focused like The Algarve, Lisbon, Porto, and Madeira, or that have a large number of expats.
Older people are less likely to speak English than young people, as the Portuguese curriculum prioritised French over English in the past, but many will still have a fantastic grasp of the language. The level of English spoken, especially in those forty and younger, is extremely high. According to the 2020 English Proficiency Index, Portugal is ranked as the 7th best country. France in comparison came 28th, Italy came 30th, and Spain came 34th. If youre looking for a country where English is widely spoken but dont want to go to a cold, wet country like The Netherlands or Denmark, the top two countries in this study Portugal is your best bet. Besides English, Spanish is widely spoken, especially close to the Spanish border (in other parts of the country, its more Portuñol. Older people, as mentioned, often speak very good French.
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Vulgar Latin In Gallia
Due to Roman rule, Latin was gradually adopted by the inhabitants of Gaul, and as the language was learned by the common people it developed a distinct local character, with grammatical differences from Latin as spoken elsewhere, some of which being attested on graffiti. This local variety evolved into the Gallo-Romance tongues, which include French and its closest relatives, such as .
The evolution of Latin in Gaul was shaped by its coexistence for over half a millennium beside the native , which did not go extinct until the late sixth century, long after the . The population remained 90% indigenous in origin the Romanizing class were the local native elite , whose children learned Latin in Roman schools. At the time of the collapse of the Empire, this local elite had been slowly abandoning Gaulish entirely, but the rural and lower class populations remained Gaulish speakers who could sometimes also speak Latin or Greek. The final language shift from Gaulish to Vulgar Latin among rural and lower class populations occurred later, when both they and the incoming Frankish ruler/military class adopted the Gallo-Roman Vulgar Latin speech of the urban intellectual elite.
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What Inspired Sign Language
There is no one answer to this question as there are a variety of reasons why people may be inspired to learn sign language. Some people may be inspired by a personal connection to someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, while others may be interested in sign language as a way to communicate with a larger community of people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Still others may find the beauty and expressiveness of sign language itself to be a motivating factor. Whatever the reason, there are many resources available to help those interested in learning sign language.
According to a study published in the journal Sign Language and Linguistics, the six European sign languages that speak it are very similar to one another. The studys lead author, Dr. Tanya L. Smith of the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom, stated that the findings will provide a new perspective on the origin and evolution of sign languages. According to Smith, sign languages are not a unitary phenomenon, but rather a group of three distinct groups with distinct characteristics. It is an important development because it challenges the long-held belief that sign languages are unique languages. Six of the European sign languages are Austrian, British, French, Spanish, Swedish, and Russian. According to the study, these six European sign languages are roughly equivalent to each other.