Lusophone

Lusophones (Portuguese: lusófonos) are people who speak the Portuguese language, either as native speakers or as learners. Similarly, the Lusosphere or Lusophony (Portuguese: Lusofonia) is a community of people who are culturally and linguistically linked to Portugal, either historically or by choice. The idea of a Lusosphere is free of ethnic connotations, in that a Lusophone may not have any Portuguese ancestry at all. The Lusophone world is mainly a legacy of the Portuguese Empire, although Portuguese diaspora and Brazilian diaspora communities have also played a role in spreading the Portuguese language. Even after the collapse of the empire, the corresponding countries continue to exhibit both cultural and political affinities, expressed in the existence of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), created in 1996.

Etymology

The term Lusophone is a classical compound, whereby the combining form "Luso-" derives from the Latin term for an area roughly corresponding to modern Portugal, called Lusitania.[1] The suffix "-phone" derives from the Ancient Greek word φωνή (phōnē), meaning "voice". The use of the term Lusophone mirrors similar terms, such as Anglophone for English-speakers, Francophone for French-speakers, Hispanophone for Spanish-speakers, and Russophone for Russian-speakers. The term is sometimes used in reference to the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, similar to the Francophonie.

Official lusophone countries

Country Population (2014 est.)[2] More information Status
Brazil Brazil 202,656,788 Portuguese in Brazil Spoken by vast majority as a native language
Mozambique Mozambique 24,692,144 Portuguese in Mozambique Spoken by significant minority as a native language
Angola Angola 19,088,106 Portuguese in AngolaSpoken by minority as a native language
Portugal Portugal 10,813,834 Portuguese in PortugalSpoken by vast majority as a native language
Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau 1,693,398 Portuguese in Guinea-BissauSpoken by significant minority as a native language
East Timor East Timor 1,201,542 Portuguese in East TimorSpoken by small minority as a native language
Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea 722,254 Portuguese in Equatorial GuineaSpoken by significant minority as a native language
Macau Macau 587,914 Portuguese in MacauSpoken by small minority as a native language
Cape Verde Cape Verde 538,535 Portuguese in Cape VerdeSpoken by majority as a second language
São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipe 190,428 Portuguese in São Tomé and PríncipeSpoken by majority as a native language
Total 270,963,252

N.B.:

  1. Some linguists argue that Galician, spoken in Galicia, is merely dialect of Portuguese rather than an independent language; this would make northwestern Spain a part of the Portuguese-speaking world.
  2. Macau is not a sovereign nation. It is one of the two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China (the other being Anglophone Hong Kong, a former British colony).
  3. Equatorial Guinea adopted Portuguese as one of its official languages in 2007, being admitted to CPLP in 2014. The use of the Portuguese language in this country is limited. A Portuguese creole is however used, mainly in Annobon and Bioko islands.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "lusophone, adj". OED Online. Oxford University Press. September 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "The World Factbook -- Field Listing - Population - CIA". Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2015-03-07.
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