Talk:Geographic distribution of Portuguese

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[edit] Various comments

Until then, it had been a home language, and communication was done through trade languages based on Tupi and influenced by Latin and Portuguese.
What is a "home language" and a "trade language"?

Not confusing at all. most spoken and first language are very different things. There are aticles that can help you: First language, home language, second language. Trade language is used in the sense that it is the language used for communication with the native people to trade. -Pedro 19:12, 7 October 2006 (UTC)

Sorry, you're right, and I had already deleted my silly doubt.

[edit] Extiction of Iberian languages planned?

I do have one more comment, though (at least):

A strong romanization led to the complete extinction of all the former native languages, as planned by Roman Emperors such as Caesar Augustus.

What is the source for claiming that Augustus or other Roman emperors actually planned the extinction of the local languages? I had never heard about this. FilipeS 19:19, 7 October 2006 (UTC)

  • Well, filipe, I think Augustus did not planned any extinction. He was interesting in the development and stability of the Roman Empire. Thus the spread of the Latin culture and language were important to reach his goals. See a biography of Caesar Augustus or the history of that period for more information on the Romanization policy. look at this map: [1]. A curiosity: Britain and the Basque country area were not part of the empire then.
  • Oh, now I know why you asked that. it's a misinterpretation of yours. Augustus made a strong Romanization, not a persecution against native languages! but that obviously lead to the extinction of the native languages.--Pedro 23:09, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Linguas Gerais Pidgins?

Thanks for the explanation on "home language". Were the línguas gerais really pidgins, though? FilipeS 19:29, 7 October 2006 (UTC)

  • they were trade languages, but not pidgins (these languages were based on native languages, not Portuguese). The Portuguese thought there was a common language in Brazil, so they used a Portuguese/Latin-influenced version of it.--Pedro 22:54, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Type of Portuguese preferred by Africans

Although they can understand Portuguese from Brazilian T.V. stations, locals still want to learn standard European Portuguese (including some Chinese), as do East Timor and the PALOP countries.

Needs to be sourced! FilipeS 19:59, 7 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Galician

This probably deserves a title of its own...

About the debate on whether Galician is within the Portuguese language, or if it is a different, but close language (as politically the Spanish administration does), see Galician. Galician has been accepted orally as Portuguese in the European Union Parliament and used as such by, among others, the Galician representatives José Posada, Camilo Nogueira and Xosé Manuel Beiras.

I think it's problematic to state that it's "the Spanish administration" which considers Galician a different, though close language, to Portuguese. As far as I know, Galicia has an elected regional government, and it is Galician institutions which have decided the status of Galician with respect to Portuguese (José Posada's symbolic act notwithstanding). FilipeS 19:38, 7 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Portuguese in Africa

The Portuguese language especially grew in use after the independence of Portugal's former [African] colonies. Independence movements from Guinea-Bissau to Mozambique saw it as an instrument to achieve their countries' development and national unity. The residents of these countries use the standard European Portuguese.

Are we sure about their using "the standard European Portuguese"? Certainly, Africans do not, generally, have a European pronunciation, and I know their Portuguese has much African vocabulary that European Portuguese does not. This should be checked. FilipeS 19:42, 7 October 2006 (UTC)

  • well... upper class speak a very European accent. (there are sources for that on the net. it's common sense, really. As for the rest of the population, interestingly, the accent of men and women can be very different (in Angola and São Tomé). That what I've noticed, but I found no study about that. Women speaking with a more Angolan-like accent. (POV: probably women do not study or are more engaged in their culture.)--Pedro 23:17, 8 November 2006 (UTC)
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