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| craig_rubric |
 Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 4:31 pm |
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Joined: 14 Jan 2009
Posts: 6
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| Can someone explain to me who is behind the decision for the new spellings in portuguese and why it is underway? Is it to have one way of spelling? |
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| rebecca |
| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:01 pm |
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Joined: 29 Jun 2007
Posts: 7
Location: London
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Hi Craig,
There is currently much debate about these very questions. For an interesting take on the debate see http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/01/01/lusosphere-reform-in-portuguese-language-not-welcomed
Here's some background information:
Seven of the world's eight Portuguese-speaking countries signed a "Portuguese Ortographic agreement" in 1990 in which they agreed to unify the two orthographic standards (Portuguese orthography and Brazilian orthography).
The aim of the reforms is to standardise and unify the written forms of Portuguese in Portuguese-speaking (Lusophone) countries, thus establishing a single common orthography for all Portuguese-speaking countries. Currently there are differences between countries in spelling, the use of accents, silent letters and other facets of the language which lead to inconsistencies in the written language. This page gives some details of the actual changes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spelling_reforms_of_Portuguese#The_Orthographic_Agreement_of_1990
Champions of the reforms say they will make Portuguese uniformally global, thus making internet searches easier, legal documents standardised, and improving the language's international standing.
Whilst the official agreement on the changes was signed in 1990, only three of the seven countries have ratified the agreement and Brazil is the only country to begin implementing the changes. In addition there is strong resistance to the changes in Portugal, particularly as they are seen as capitulating to Brazilian interest. The full implementation and fruition of the changes remain someway off. |
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