As of January 1st 2009, the Portuguese language follows new spelling rules determined by the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries. The goal behind these changes is to establish consistency in how the 8th most spoken language in the world is written in the different countries where it is spoken (Brazil, Portugal, Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor, and Guinea-Bissau). The changes, which will affect more than 230 million Portuguese-speakers, have led to some controversy: some people claim these rules are “Brazilianizing” the language or that the unification will remove the cultural particularities existent today, while others believe the exact opposite and that the change will actually bring cultures together by allowing an exchange of school textbooks between the different countries. All that is known is that Brazil will be the least affected country, with a modification in only 0.5% of the words, while in Portugal 1.6% of the words will change.
[via Folha]
Facebook
Twitter
Digg
Reddit
StumbleUpon
