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Portuguese in Brazil could give way to a new language! Understand the historical transformations that explain why the country's language is increasingly distant from European Portuguese and what this means for national identity.
Brazil is about to face a linguistic revolution that could change its identity forever.
A historical and cultural transformation is underway, and the language as we know it may have its days numbered.
But what would the future be like for a country where Portuguese is no longer the official language? The answer may surprise you.
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According to linguist Fernando Venâncio, in interview to BBC Brazil, the Portuguese spoken in Brazil is no longer the same as in Portugal centuries ago. He claims that we are heading towards the emergence of a new language: “Brazilian”.
For Venâncio, the transformations that occur in the way of speaking and writing already indicate such a significant distance that, soon, the language will be able to be recognized as distinct.
But how did we get here, and what does this new language represent for Brazilian culture?
The historical roots of a transformation
The history of the Portuguese language is deeply linked to the cultural and territorial influences that shaped the Iberian Peninsula.
Portuguese, as we know it today, had its origins in the ancient Kingdom of Galicia, located in the northwest of the Peninsula, where Galician began to form after the fall of the Roman Empire.
The language evolved amid a mosaic of languages and cultures, including the Arab dominance in Lisbon, where Mozarabic was spoken, a dialect influenced by Arabic and Latin.
Meanwhile, Galician, the mother tongue of Portuguese, was gaining strength and influencing territories to the south, shaping the language that would arrive in Brazil centuries later.
Over time, Galician lost prestige and was absorbed by Spanish and Portuguese influences, but it left important marks on the Portuguese spoken in Brazil.
Expressions such as the famous northeastern “oxente” and the use of diminutives such as “cafezinho” have roots in Galicia, highlighting this historical connection.
From Portuguese to “Brazilian”: a natural path?
For Venancio, The linguistic distance between Brazil and Portugal is inevitable and reflects the cultural and social differences that have deepened over the centuries. He points out that, in Brazil, the Portuguese language was adapted and enriched by indigenous, African and even other European influences, such as Italian and German.
One of the clearest evidences of this transformation is vocabulary.
While in Brazil we say “geladeira”, in Portugal we use “frigorífico”.
This difference, which seems simple, is just one of many that demonstrate the independent evolution of the Brazilian language.
Furthermore, the linguist highlights that elements of Brazilian Portuguese, such as softer intonation and simplified grammatical structure, are far from formal European Portuguese.
He suggests that this evolution is a natural process in living languages, especially in a country as large and diverse as Brazil.
The cultural impact of this change
The possible separation between Portuguese and “Brazilian” is not just a linguistic issue; it also reflects questions of cultural identity and historical autonomy.
Although grammatical and formal norms are still similar, everyday language in Brazil is already largely distinct from that of Portugal.
On the other hand, many linguists argue that there is still enough unity to consider the two variants as part of a single language.
They point to the maintenance of fundamental structures, such as articles, pronouns and prepositions, which remain virtually unchanged in both countries.
However, Venâncio believes that the emergence of the “Brazilian” is inevitable.
He compares the situation to what happened with Latin, which gave rise to several modern languages, such as Italian, French and Spanish. “It is not a rupture, but an evolution,” he says.
Are we ready for a new language?
Although the idea of a “new language” may seem drastic, it is rooted in historical and cultural processes that have been unfolding for centuries.
The central question is: Is Brazil prepared to embrace its own linguistic identity, distinct from European Portuguese?
This change would have profound implications for national identity, the educational system and even international relations.
What does it mean, after all, to leave behind the language we have carried for more than 500 years?
Although the separation between Portuguese and “Brazilian” may sound like a loss, it can also be seen as a milestone in cultural autonomy.
Is Brazil ready to take this step? Or is this just a natural transformation that will take centuries to consolidate?
What the **** is this about having another language?
Only the nomenclature changes, instead of Portuguese our language will be called Brazilian language!
Nothing changes and the people remain the same.
How much we need a ravine to weed…
That's a lie!
That's right!