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'''Acrux''' ([[alpha (letter)|α]] Crucis) is a [[star]] in the [[constellation]] [[Crux]], the Southern Cross. Since the Southern Cross is roughly 60 degrees below the [[celestial equator]], Crux is only visible south of the [[Tropic of Cancer]] and therefore didn't receive an ancient proper name; "Acrux" is simply a combination of the A in Alpha plus Crux. Acrux has a [[stellar magnitude]] of 0.77, and is the twelfth brightest star in the sky. It is the southernmost first magnitude star, just beating out [[Rigil Kentaurus]] (α Centauri).
<table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="right" width="300">
<tr><th colspan="2" bgcolor=lawngreen><big>Portuguese ''(Português)''</big></th></tr>
<tr><td valign="top">Spoken in:</td><td> [[Andorra]], [[Angola]], [[Brazil]], [[Cape Verde]], [[East Timor]], [[Guinea Bissau]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Macau]], [[Mozambique]], [[Namibia]], [[Portugal]], [[São Tomé and Príncipe]], [[India]], [[South Africa]], [[Spain]] and 20 other countries</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top">Total speakers:</td><td> 199 Million - 207 Million<sup><small>[[#Notes|1]]</small></sup></td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top">[[List of languages by total speakers|Ranking]]:</td><td>6</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top">[[Language families and languages|Genetic]]<br>[[Language families and languages|classification]]:</td><td>
[[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]]<br>
[[Italic languages|Italic]]<br>
[[Romance language|Romance]]<br>
[[Italo-Western languages|Italo-Western]]<br>
[[Western Italo-Western languages|Western]]<br>
[[Gallo-Iberian languages|Gallo-Iberian]]<br>
[[Ibero-Romance languages|Ibero-Romance]]<br>
[[West Iberan languages|West-Iberian]]<br>
[[Portuguese-Galician languages|Portuguese-Galician]]<br>
'''Portuguese'''<br>
</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2" bgcolor=lawngreen>Official status</th></tr>
<tr><td valign="top">Official language of:</td><td valign="top">[[Portugal]], [[Brazil]], [[Angola]], [[Mozambique]], [[Guinea Bissau]], [[Cape Verde]], [[São Tomé and Príncipe]], [[East Timor]], [[Macau]]</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top">Regulated by:</td><td>[[International Portuguese Language Institute]]; [[CPLP]]</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2" bgcolor=lawngreen>Language codes</th></tr>
<tr><td valign="top">[[ISO 639]]-1:</td><td> pt</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top">ISO 639-2: (T):</td><td> por</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top">[[SIL]]:</td><td> POR</td></tr>
</table>
Acrux is a [[trinary star]] located 320 light years from the solar system. Only two components are visually distinguishable, α<sup>1</sup> and α<sup>2</sup>, separated by 4 [[arcsecond]]s. α<sup>1</sup> is magnitude 1.33 and α<sup>2</sup> is magnitude 1.73, both hot [[stellar classification|class B]] (almost [[stellar classification|class O]]) stars, with surface temperatures of about 28,000 and 26,000 Kelvin respectively; their respective luminosities are 2,500 and 1,600 times that of the Sun. α<sup>1</sup> and α<sup>2</sup> orbit over such a long period that motion is only barely seen. From their minimum separation of 430 [[astronomical unit]]s, the period is at least 1500 years, and may be much longer.
'''Portuguese''' is a [[Romance languages|Romance language]] spoken in [[Portugal]] and most of its former colonies, including [[Brazil]], [[Angola]], [[Mozambique]], [[Guinea Bissau]] and [[East Timor]]. With 199 million native speakers, Portuguese is the sixth most popular mother-tongue language in the world, and the second [[Romance languages|Romance language]], outnumbered only by [[Spanish language|Spanish]].
α<sup>1</sup> is itself a [[spectroscopic binary]] star, with its components thought to be around 14 and 10 times the mass of the Sun and orbiting in only 76 days at a separation of about one astronomical unit. The masses of α<sup>2</sup> and the brighter component of α<sup>1</sup> suggest that the stars will someday explode as [[supernova|supernovae]]. The fainter component of α<sup>1</sup> may survive to become a massive [[white dwarf]].
Portuguese is nicknamed ''A língua de Camões'' (after [[Luís de Camões]], the author of [[The Lusiad]]); and ''A última flor do Lácio'' ("The last flower of [[Latium]]").
Another class B subgiant lies 90 arcseconds away from triple Acrux and shares Acrux's motion through space, suggesting it may be gravitationally bound to Acrux. However, if it is indeed located near Acrux, it is under-luminous for its class. It is probably just an optical [[double star]], most likely lying over twice as far away from the solar system as Acrux.
The Portuguese language was spread worldwide in the [[15th century|15th]] and [[16th century|16th]] centuries as Portugal created the first (and longest-lived) modern-world colonial and commercial empire, spanning from [[Brazil]] in the [[Americas]] to [[Macau]] in [[China]] and [[Japan]]. As a result of that expansion, Portuguese is now the official language of several independent countries, and is widely spoken or studied as a second language in many others. There are still more than 20 [[Portuguese Creole]] languages. It is an important minority language in [[Andorra]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Namibia]] and [[South Africa]]. Large Portuguese-speaking immigrant communities exist in many cities around the world, e.g. [[Paris]] in [[France]], [[Boston]], [[New Jersey]] and [[Miami]] in the [[United States of America|USA]].
[[Category:Stars]]
==History==
[[de:Acrux]]
[[ja:アクルックス]]
Portuguese developed in the Western [[Iberian Peninsula]] from the spoken [[Latin language]] brought there by [[Roman Empire|Roman]] soldiers starting in the [[3rd century BC]]. The language began to differentiate itself from other Romance languages after the fall of the Roman Empire and the barbarian invasions in the [[5th century]]. It started to be used in written documents around the [[9th century]], and by the [[15th century]] it had become a mature language with a rich literature.
===Roman colonization===
The Romans conquered the Western [[Iberian Peninsula]] — the Roman province of [[Lusitania]], currently Portugal and the region of [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]] region of [[Spain]] — in [[218 BC]], and brought with them a popular version of [[Latin language|Latin]], the [[Vulgar Latin]] from which all Romance languages are belived to descend. Almost 90% of the Portuguese lexicon comes from Latin: although the Iberian Peninsula was inhabited since well before the Roman colonization, very few traces of the native languages persist in modern Portuguese.
===Barbarian invasions===
Between [[409]] A.D. and [[711]], as the Roman Empire was collapsing, the Iberian Peninsula was invaded by peoples of germanic origin, known by the Romans as [[Barbarians]]. The Barbarians (mainly [[Suevi]] and [[Visigoths]]) largely absorbed the Roman culture and language of the peninsula; however, since the Roman schools were closed, the Latin language was left free to evolve on its own. As each barbarian tribe spoke Latin in a different way, the uniformity of the Peninsula was soon disrupted, leading to the formation of well-differentiated languages ([[Portuguese-Galician]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and [[Catalan language|Catalan]]). The Suevi people, in particular, are believed to be responsible for the linguistic differentiation of the Portuguese and Galician dialects away from the Spanish ones. The Germanic languages influenced Portuguese in words linked to war and violence, such as "Guerra" (to mean War).
===Moorish invasion===
From [[711]], with the [[Moors|Moorish]] invasion of the Peninsula, [[Arabic language|Arabic]] was adopted as the administrative language in the conquered regions. However, the population continued to speak Romance; so that when the Moors were expelled, the influence that they had exerted on the language was small. Its main effect was in the lexicon: modern Portuguese still has a large number of words of Arabic origin, especially relating to food and agriculture, which have no cognates in other Romance languages. The Arabic influence is also visible in placenames throughout the Southern provinces, such as ''Algarve'' and ''Fátima''.
===The rise of the Portuguese language===
[[image:Ajuda_library_IPPAR.jpg|thumb| Picture of Ajuda Library, created in the 15th century as "Royal Library". Mother of the Portuguese and Brazilian National Libraries. (from IPPAR)]]
The ancient Roman province of Lusitania had split into two separate provinces, Lusitania in the south and Galecia in the north. The Portuguese language developed mainly in Northern [[Portugal]] and [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]], but was largely influenced by similar Romance dialects spoken in southern Portugal.
For a long time the [[Romance]] dialect of that region evolved only as a spoken language.
The earliest surviving records of a distinctively Portuguese language are administrative documents from the [[9th century]], still interspersed with many phrases in Latin.
The written vernacular came gradually into general use in the following centuries. Portugal became an independent country in [[1143]], with King [[Alfonso I of Portugal|Alfonso I]]. The ensuing relative political and geographical separation between Portugal and Castille (later Spain) allowed the two countries to evolve their vernacular Latin in separate directions. In [[1290]], king [[Diniz of Portugal|Diniz]] created the first Portuguese University in Lisbon (the ''Estudo Geral'') and decreed that Portuguese, then called the "Vulgar language" or [[Vulgar Latin]] should be used in preference to [[Classical Latin]] and known as "Portuguese language". In 1296, Portuguese is adopted by Royal Chancellary. Used now not only in poetry but also when writing law and in notaries.
Until [[1350]], the language [[Portuguese-Galician]] remained the native language of Galicia and Portugal only; but by the [[14th century]] Portuguese had become a mature language with a rich literary tradition, and was adopted also by many [[Leonese]], [[Castillian]], [[Aragonese]] and [[Catalan]] poets. During that time, Galicia came under the influence of Castillan (basically modern [[Spanish language|Spanish]]), and the southern variant became the language of Portugal.
===The Portuguese discoveries===
[[image:castelo_sagres_IPPAR.jpg|thumb|Sagres, in the ancient Roman "Promontorium Sacrum" -dedicated to god Saturn. Symbol of the Portuguese discoveries and the 15th century world's leading scientific and technological center. (from IPPAR)]]
Between the [[14th century|14th]] and the [[16th century|16th centuries]], with the Portuguese discoveries, the Portuguese language spread to many regions of [[Asia]], [[Africa]] and [[America]]. By the [[16th century]] it had become a ''[[lingua franca]]'' in Asia and Africa, used not only for colonial administration and trade but also for communication between local officials and Europeans of all nationalities. In Ceylon (modern [[Sri Lanka]]) several kings became fluent speakers of Portuguese, and nobles often took Portuguese names. The spread of the language was helped by mixed marriages between Portuguese and local people (also very common in other areas of the world), and its association with the Catholic missionary efforts which led to the language being called ''Cristão'' ("Christian") in many places. The language continued popular even in despite severe measures taken by the Dutch to abolish it in Ceylon and Indonesia
Some Portuguese-speaking Christian communities in India, Sri Lanka, [[Malaysia]] and Indonesia preserved their language even after they were isolated from Portugal, and have evolved through the centuries into several [[Portuguese Creole|Portuguese Creoles]]. Also, many words of Portuguese origin entered the lexicons of many other languages such as "arigatô" to mean Thank you in [[Japanese language|Japanese]] (from "obrigado"), "sepatu" to mean Shoe in [[Bahasa Indonesia|Indonesian]] (from "sapato"), "keju" to mean cheese in [[Malay_language|Malay]] (from "queijo"), "meza" to mean table in [[Swahili language|Swahili]] (from "mesa").
===The Renaissance===
With the Renaissance, increases in the number of words of Classical Latin origin and erudite words of Greek origin increased the complexity of Portuguese. The end of "Old Portuguese" was marked by the publication of the ''Cancioneiro Geral de Garcia de Resende'', in 1516. But Old Portuguese is still spoken, as a dialect, especially in São Tomé and Principe, but also Brazil and rural Portugal.
==Classification and related languages==
[[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] -
[[Italic languages|Italic]] -
[[Romance language|Romance]] -
[[Italo-Western languages|Italo-Western]] -
[[Western Italo-Western languages|Western]] -
[[Gallo-Iberian languages|Gallo-Iberian]] -
[[Ibero-Romance languages|Ibero-Romance]] -
[[West Iberan languages|West-Iberian]] -
[[Portuguese-Galician languages|Portuguese-Galician]]
Portuguese is orthographically similar in many ways to [[Spanish language|Spanish]], it is different in speech. A speaker of one may require some practice to effectively understand a speaker of the other. Compare, for example:
:''Ela fecha sempre a janela antes de jantar.'' (Portuguese)
:''Ella cierra siempre la ventana antes de cenar.'' (Spanish)
Almost all words in Spanish or Portuguese have close relatives in both languages if you are cultivated enough to use less common words:
:''Ela encerra sempre a janela antes de cear.'' (less common Portuguese)
(Which translates as "She always closes the window before having dinner.")
Portuguese is somewhat similar to Catalan in sounds. Speakers of other Romance languages may find a peculiarity in the conjugating of certain apparently infinitive verbs. In particular, when constructing a future tense or [[conditional tense]] expression involving an indirect object pronoun, the pronoun is placed between the verb stem and the verb ending. For example, Dupondt said ''trazer-vos-emos o vosso [[King Ottokar's Sceptre|ceptro]].'' Translating as literally as possible, this is "bring (stem)-to you (formal)-we (future) the your sceptre". In English we would say, "We will bring you your sceptre." The form ''Nós vos traremos o vosso [[King Ottokar's Sceptre|ceptro]].'' is also correct, although less common in Portugal, but more common in Brazil.
In some places, Spanish and Portuguese are spoken almost interchangeably. Portuguese speakers are generally able to read Spanish, and Spanish speakers are generally able to read Portuguese, even if they can't understand the spoken language. Tourists in Portugal and Brazil should note that trying to communicate with the locals in Spanish may seem offensive. French or English languages should be preferred in Portugal, if not speaking Portuguese. Portuguese people appreciate an "olá" for hello and "tchau" (do not use "Adeus") for good-bye.
==Geographic distribution==
Portuguese is the first [[language]] in [[Angola]], [[Brazil]], [[Portugal]] and [[São Tomé and Príncipe]].
Portuguese is also one of the primary languages of [[East Timor]] (with [[Tetum language|Tetum]]) and [[Macao]] (with [[Chinese language|Chinese]]). It is an [[official language]], but not the first, in [[Cape Verde]], [[Guinea-Bissau]] and [[Mozambique]]. It is largely spoken, but not official, in [[Andorra]], [[Luxembourg]] and [[Namibia]].
===The Americas===
Nevertheless, Portuguese is growing in importance in South America. Because of Brazil, it is being taught (and is popular, especially in Argentina) in the rest of the South American countries that constitute [[Mercosul]] (Mercosur). There are in Brazil, 182.1 million people who use Portuguese as their main language, but there are also first-language speakers in [[Argentina]], [[Bolivia]], [[Paraguay]] and [[Uruguay]]. In the rest of the Americas, there are also important communities in: [[Antigua and Barbuda]], [[Bermuda]], [[Canada]], [[Guyana]], [[Jamaica]], [[United States]] (0.6 million active speakers in a community of 1.5 million, especially [[New Jersey]]) and [[Venezuela]].
===Europe===
In Europe, Portuguese is spoken mainly in Portugal by its 10.3 million inhabitants, as first language. The language is also spoken throughout Europe by Portuguese influence, by more than 10% of the population of [[Luxembourg]] and [[Andorra]]. There are also strong Portuguese speaking communities in [[Belgium]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Jersey]] and [[Switzerland]]. It is also spoken in [[Spain]], especially in [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]] (known officially as [[Galician]]), [[Olivença]] and in [[Vale do Xalima]] (known as ''A fala'').
Galician (also known as ''Galego'' or ''Gallego'') can be seen as a somewhat Castillianized form of Portuguese. The current Galician Autonomous Government backs a standard variety of Galician which distances it from Portuguese and makes its written form more similar to Castillian Spanish. Nevertheless, there is another standard, used in some political circles and universities, that treats Galician as a Portuguese dialect with minor differences. Linguists have always recognized the unity of these linguistic varieties (for instance, Corominas, Lindley Cintra, Coseriu, etc), as they were once just the same language and both are relatively conservative varieties. However, in practice, they are sometimes treated as different languages by both populations mainly due to sociolinguistic factors, with works in Galician being translated into Portuguese and vice versa. During the [[Middle Ages]], Galician and Portuguese were undoubtedly the same language, nowadays known as [[Portuguese-Galician]], a language used for poetic works even in Castille. The only Galician deputy in the [[European Union]] Parliament speaks in Portuguese.
===Africa===
In sub-Saharan Africa, Portuguese is a growing language where it is projected that to be the one of the most spoken languages within 50 years with the growing importance of [[Angola]] and [[Mozambique]]. These two countries along with [[Cape Verde]], [[Guinea-Bissau]] and [[São Tomé and Príncipe]] are known as ''Paises Africanos de Língua Oficial Portuguesa'' (Official Portuguese Language African Countries) or PALOP, forming a community of more than 8.4 million first language speakers. Portuguese language especially growed in use after the independence, and not before, of the former colonies. Independentist movements spanning from Guinea-Bissau to Mozambique saw it as an instrument of their countries development and national unity. Portuguese is a minority language in [[Congo]], [[Malawi]], [[Namibia]] (Angolan refuges, ~20% of the Population), [[South Africa]] (more than one million speakers), [[Zambia]] and [[Zimbabwe]].
[[image:Portuguese_discoveries_diogo_cao.jpg|thumb|left|Representation of placement of a discovery standard in Zaire river in the 15th century. In the 21st century, Africa is where the language most grows in use, becoming an important language in Africa and a major player in the language.]]
There are strong Portuguese creoles in other parts of Africa. The south of [[Senegal]], known as [[Casamance]] has an active community that is linked culturally and linguistically to Guinea-Bissau and learning Portuguese is popular. A [[Portuguese creole]] linked to São Tomé and Principe is the language of the island of [[Annobón]], [[Equatorial Guinea]].
In [[Guinea-Bissau]] and [[Cape Verde]], the most widely-spoken languages are Portuguese creoles known as '''Crioulos'''. Most Capeverdians can also speak Standard Portuguese. There is some decreoulization due to School and Portugal's national TV channels are a Capeverdian fever, but it is believe that the Creoles will be maintained. The case is a bit different in Guinea-Bissau, Portuguese and its creoles are spoken by more than 60% of the inhabitants, while Portuguese itself is only spoken by 14%.
In [[São Tomé and Príncipe]], the Portuguese used by the population is an archaic Portuguese, known as São Tomean Portuguese, presenting many similarities with Brazilian Portuguese. Politicians and the upper use the modern European Portuguese variety, much like the other PALOP countries. Three different Portuguese creoles are also spoken in the islands. Children can only speak Portuguese, because of their parents choice and not only school, while when they become adults they learn the Portuguese Creole known as [[Forro]].
In [[Angola]], Portuguese is quickly becoming a national language rather than only an official language or as a ''cohesion vehicle''. By the census of 1980, in the capital, [[Luanda]], Portuguese was the first language of 75% of a population of 2.5 million. In the whole country, for 60% of the 12.5 million inhabitants Portuguese was also the main spoken language. Most younger Angolans can only speak Portuguese. Angola receives several Portuguese and Brazilian televison stations, a Portuguese news TV station (SIC Notícias) became widily Popular in Angola in a record time, has it started broadcasting in Angola in [[2003]]. There are also many other native languages in Angola, the population treats them as dialects and not languages. Some words from those languages have been borrowed into Portuguese, when the ''retornados'' returned to Portugal after Angola's independence. Words like ''iá'' (yes) and ''bué'' (many), common in the young and urban Portuguese population have their origin in Angolan languages. The younger Portuguese socialet is very similar to Angola's Portuguese dialect, due to that influence.
[[Mozambique]] is among the countries where the Portuguese has the status of official language, being spoken essentially as a second language. However, it is the main language in the cities. According to the Census of 1997, Portuguese speakers are more than 40% of the population, this number rises to more than 72% in the urban areas. But only 9% consider Portuguese as their main language (26% in the cities). All the Mozambican writers write in Portuguese, but it became attached to the coloor and texture of the Mozambican culture.
===Asia===
Portuguese is also spoken in [[Asia]], especially in [[East Timor]], [[Goa (state)|Goa]] and [[Daman and Diu|Daman]] (India) and [[Macau]] (China). In Goa, it is spoken by an increasingly small minority, it is seen as the language of the grandparents, because it is not taught at school or official, while in [[Malacca]] in [[Malaysia]], there is a Portuguese creole known as Cristão or ''[[Papiá Kristang]]'' still spoken by some of the Eurasian population. There are also active Portuguese creoles, especially, in [[India]] ([[Daman and Diu|Daman]] and [[Korlai]]) and [[Sri Lanka]]. In [[Japan]], Portuguese is spoken by Brazilians of Japanese descent, known as '''dekasegui''', who number approximately 250,000 people.
In [[East Timor]], the national language is [[Tetum]], an [[Austronesian]] language, but it has been heavily influenced by Portuguese. The reintroduction of Portuguese as an official language has caused suspicion and resentment among some younger East Timorese who have been educated under the Indonesian system, and do not speak it. Portuguese in East Timor is spoken by less than 20% of its population, mostly the elder generation, though this percentage is increasing as Portuguese is being taught to the younger generation and to interrested adults. East Timor asked for help to the other CPLP nations to establish once more Portuguese as a national language. East Timor uses Portuguese to link itself to a larger international community and to differentiate itself from Indonesia. [[Xanana Gusmão]], president of East Timor, believes that Portuguese will be widely spoken within 10 years.
===Official status===
The [[CPLP]] ([[Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries]]) is an international organization grouping together the eight independent countries which have Portuguese as official language. Portuguese is an official language of the [[European Union]], [[Mercosul]] and [[African Union]] (one of the working languages) among other organizations. Except for the Asian territories (East Timor and Macau), Portuguese is the sole official language in each country.
Portuguese is the official language of:
<br>'''Africa'''
* [[Angola]] ''main language: 60% spoken by: NA%''
* [[Cape Verde]] ''main language: NA% spoken by: ~90%''
* [[Guinea-Bissau]] ''main language: 14% spoken by: 14%''
* [[Mozambique]] ''main language: 9% spoken by: 40%''
* [[São Tomé and Príncipe]] ''main language: NA% spoken by: 95%''
'''Asia'''
* [[Macau]], [[China]] ''main language: 2% spoken by: NA%''
* [[East Timor]] ''main language: NA% spoken by: 15%''
'''Europe'''
* [[Portugal]] ''main language: ~100% spoken by: ~100%''
'''South America'''
* [[Brazil]] ''main language: 99% spoken by: ~100%''
While not Official, Portuguese is largely spoken in:
* [[Olivença]] ''(a Portuguese territory invaded by Spain in the 19th century)''
* [[Namibia]]: ''20%''
* [[Luxembourg]]: ''13%''
* [[Andorra]]: ''11%''
* [[Daman and Diu|Daman]], [[India]]: ''10%''
* [[Goa]], [[India]]: ''3-5%''
* [[South Africa]]: ''2%''
* [[Spain]]: [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]]<sup><small>[[#Notes|2]]</small></sup> and [[Vale do Xálima]]<sup><small>[[#Notes|3]]</small></sup>
=== Written varieties ===
Portuguese has two written varieties (Port. ''Variedades'') but Portuguese speakers prefer to name them as ''Padrões'' ([[English language|Eng.]] Patterns):
* European and African Portuguese
* Brazilian Portuguese
The differences between Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese varieties are mostly in vocabulary and pronunciation, especially in popular varieties. The differences are somewhat less than those between [[American English]] and [[British English]]. Both varieties are undoubtedly dialects of the same language and speakers from both varieties can easily understand each other.
Some apparent differences between the two varieties are not really differences. In Brazil, the term for socks is ''meias''. And, in Portugal, ''peúgas''. However, some dialectal zones in Portugal uses ''meias'' and don't use the word ''peúgas''. This applies in almost all such apparent differences, except in the new terms, such as ''ônibus'' in Brazil, that is ''Autocarro'' in Portugal.
They are considered varieties not because of its distinct lexicon (considered natural even in a single country) but rather due to the writing form. Brazil eliminated from the language, the "c", "n" and "p" that are not used in the spoken language, a remanescent from the Latin past of the language.
<center>
<table border="1">
<tr>
<th>Portugal and Africa</th>
<th>Brazil</th>
<th>Translation</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>acção</td>
<td>ação</td>
<td>action</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>contracto</td>
<td>contrato</td>
<td>contract</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>direcção</td>
<td>direção</td>
<td>direction</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>eléctrico</td>
<td>elétrico</td>
<td>electric</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>óptimo</td>
<td>ótimo</td>
<td>great</td>
</tr>
</table>
</center>
Also, there are differences in accent marks, due to:
# Different pronounciation. ''Brazil in words such as "Antônio" (Anthony) or "anônimo" (anonimous), where Portugal and Africa uses open ones, "António" or "anónimo", respectively. In the case of Africa, it is mostly due that the European Portuguese is prefered standard.''
# Easy reading. ''Because "qu" can be read in two different ways in Portuguese: "ku" or "k", Brazil decided to facilitate it, using the diaresis. Insted of "cinquenta" they write "cinqüenta".''
A Spelling Reform (Port. ''Reforma Ortográfica'') was tried in 1990 to put an end to the two official written varieties of the language, was ratified by Brazil, Cape Verde and Portugal. The African countries of Portuguese language still not decided to ratify, due to problems in implementing it. The Agreement establishes that its entrance into practice will only occur when all the countries of the CPLP ratify it, and this process perhaps will not occur soon, even with Portuguese and Brazilian pressure in CPLP, to accelerate it in Africa. An other agreement was made for the new words that will enter in the language.
=== Dialects ===
''main article'': [[Portuguese dialects]]
African Portuguese especially the [[Angolan Portuguese]] and [[São Tomean Portuguese]] has many similarities with [[Brazilian Portuguese]]. Reveling that [[European Portuguese]] has changed more than the other varieties. Still, all aspects and sounds of all Portuguese (nation) dialects can be found in some Brazilian (nation) dialect. Even with independence of the former African colonies, the standard Portuguese of Portugal is still the prefered standard for most African Portuguese dialects. Thus, they are becoming somewhat more similar to standard European Portuguese.
Major Portuguese dialects, with the standard spoken dialect of each country:
[[Portugal]]
* Alentejano - ''[[Alentejo]]''
* Algarvio - ''[[Algarve]]''
* Alto-Minhoto - ''North of [[Braga]]''
* Açoriano - ''[[Azores]]''
* Beirão - ''central Portugal''
* Estremenho - ''Regions of Coimbra and Lisbon'' ([[European Portuguese]])
* Nortenho - ''Regions of Braga and [[Oporto]]''
* Madeirense - ''[[Madeira]]''
* Transmontano ''[[Trás-os-Montes]]''
[[Africa]]
* Angolano - ''Angola'' ([[Angolan Portuguese]])
* Caboverdiano - ''Cape Verde'' ([[Cape Verdian Portuguese]])
* Guineense - ''Guinea-Bissau'' ([[Guinea-Bissau Portuguese]])
* Moçambicano - ''Mozambique'' ([[Mozambican Portuguese]])
* Santomense - ''São Tomé and Principe'' ([[São Tomean Portuguese]])
[[Brazil]]
* Caipira - ''interior of the State of São Paulo''
* Carioca - ''City and State of Rio de Janeiro'' ([[Brazilian Portuguese]])
* Cearense - ''State of [[Ceará]]''
* Baiano - ''Region of [[Bahia]]''
* Gaúcho - ''[[Rio Grande do Sul]]''
* Mineiro - ''State of [[Minas Gerais]]''
* Nordestino - ''norestern states of Brazil''
* Nortista - ''[[Amazon Basin]] states''
* Paulistano - ''city of São Paulo''
* Sertão - ''States of [[Goiás]] and [[Mato Grosso]]''
* Sulista - ''south of Brazil''
Other Areas
* Galego - ''[[Galiza]], Spain'' ([[Galician]])
* Timorense - ''East Timor'' ([[East Timorese Portuguese]])
Examples of words in Portuguese dialects from three different continents Angola (Africa), Portugal (Europe) and Brazil (South America).
''Pinnapple''
* Angola: ''abacaxi''²
* Brazil: ''abacaxi''², sometimes ''ananás''¹
* Portugal: ''ananás''¹, sometimes ''abacaxi''²
''Savannah''
* Angola: ''anhara''³,''chana''³, sometimes ''savana''¹
* Brazil: ''savana''¹
* Portugal: ''savana''¹
''Pretty girl''
* Angola: ''barona''¹, ''moça bonita''¹
* Brazil: ''moça bonita''¹, sometimes ''rapariga bonita''¹
* Portugal: ''rapariga bonita''¹ or ''moça bonita''¹
''Go away''
* Angola: ''bazar''³, ''ir embora'' ¹
* Brazil: ''ir embora'' ¹
* Portugal: ''ir embora''¹ (or ''bazar''³ among teenagers)
''To work''
* Angola: ''bumbar''³, ''trabalhar''¹;
* Brazil: ''trabalhar''¹
* Portugal: ''trabalhar''¹ (or ''bumbar''³ among teenagers)
''Party''
* Angola: ''farra''³, ''festa''¹
* Portugal and Brazil: ''festa''¹ (or ''farra''³ - teenage parties)
''Bus''
* Portugal: ''autocarro''
* Brazil: ''ônibus''
* Angola: ''machimbombo''
''slum quarter''
* Angola: ''muceque''
* Brazil: ''favela''
* Portugal: ''bairro de lata''
('''1''') Portuguese origin
('''2''') Brazilian origin
('''3''') Angolan origin
===Derived languages===
''main article:'' [[Portuguese Creole]]
[[Portugal in the period of discoveries]] and colonization created a linguistic contact with native languages and people of the discovered lands and thus pidgins were formed. Until the [[18th century]], these Portuguese pidgins were used as Lingua Franca in Asia and Africa. Later, the Portuguese pidgins were expanded grammatically and lexically, as it became a native language. These creoles are spoken, mostly, by inter-racial communities (Portuguese people with natives).
Cape Verde:
* [[Crioulo]] Barlavento (Criol)
* [[Crioulo]] Sotavento (Kriolu)
Equatorial Guinea:
*[[Fá d'Ambô]]
Guinea-Bissau and Senegal:
* [[kriol]]
India:
* Creole of Diu
* Creole of Vaipim
* [[Kristi]]
* [[Língua da Casa]]
Macau, China:
* [[Patuá|Macaista]]
Malaysia, Singapore:
* [[Cristao|Papiá Kristang]]
Netherlands Antilles and Aruba:
* [[Papiamento]]
São Tomé and Principe:
* [[Angolar]]
* [[Forro]]
* [[Lunguyê]]
Sri Lanka:
* [[Burgher]]
Suriname:
* [[Saramacano]]
Some languages (or Portuguese dialects with Spanish influence) came to exist after an interaction with Spanish:
* A Fala, Spain
* [[Galician|Gallego]], Spain ''(The official variety)''
* Portunhol, Uruguai
==Sounds==
''main article:'' [[Portuguese sounds]]
''The following Table of Sounds is valid both in European, African and Brazilian Portuguese.''
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
|-
|'''letter'''
|'''Portuguese'''
|'''Meaning'''
|'''Sound'''
|'''letter'''
|'''Portuguese'''
|'''Meaning'''
|'''Sound'''
|-
|a, ã
| '''a'''njo
| angel
|'''a'''rea
|n-
|'''n'''úmero
|number
|'''n'''othing
|-
|b
| '''b'''ola
| ball
|'''b'''egin
|nh
|ni'''nh'''o
|nest
|si'''ng'''
|-
|ca, co, cu
| '''ca'''sa
| house
|'''c'''ake
|o
|sant'''o''', b'''o'''nito
|saint, pretty
|'''w'''ant, b'''oo'''
|-
|ça, ce, ci, ço, çu
| '''ce'''do, ma'''ç'''ã
| early, apple
|'''c'''ity
|ó
|m'''o'''rte, m'''o'''da, n'''ó'''
|death, fashion, knot
|l'''aw'''
|-
|ch
| '''ch'''eque
| check
|'''sh'''e
|ô
|'''o'''vo, '''o'''lho, av'''ô'''
|egg, eye, grandparent
|kn'''o'''w
|-
|d
| '''d'''edo
| finger
|'''d'''ay
|p
|'''p'''arte
|part
|'''p'''ark
|-
|e
| leit'''e''', val'''e'''
| milk, valey
|ch'''ee'''se
|qu
|'''qu'''anto, cin'''qu'''enta
|how much, fifty
|'''qu'''ick
|-
|é
| r'''e'''sto, f'''e'''sta, caf'''é'''
| rest, party, coofe
|b'''e'''d
|que qui
|a'''que'''le, a'''qui'''
|that one, here
|'''k'''ey
|-
|ê
| m'''e'''do, l'''e'''tra, voc'''ê'''
|fear, letter, you
|th'''e'''m
|r
|ca'''r'''o, ba'''r'''co
|expensive, boat
|ca'''r'''
|-
|f
| '''f'''erro
| iron
|'''f'''ear
|rr
|'''r'''osa, ca'''rr'''o
|rose, car
|''(French '''rr''')''
|-
|ga, go
| '''g'''ato
| cat
|'''g'''as
|s-, ss
|'''s'''apo, a'''ss'''ado
|frog, roasted
|'''s'''amba
|-
|ge, gi
| '''g'''elo
| ice
|an'''g'''el
|sc, sç
|pi'''sc'''ina, de'''sç'''a
|pool, go down
|'''s'''ea or '''sh'''e
|-
|gu
| á'''gu'''a
| water
|Nicara'''gu'''a
|s
|galinha'''s''', arco'''s'''
|chikens, arcs
|'''sh'''e or '''s'''ea
|-
|gu
| portu'''gu'''ês
| Portuguese
|'''g'''ive
|''(vowel)'''s'''(vowel)''
|ra'''s'''o
|evenness
|'''z'''ero
|-
|h
| '''h'''arpa
| harp
| ''silent letter''
|t
|'''t'''osta
|toast
|'''t'''omato
|-
|i
| '''i'''d'''i'''ota
| idiot
| m'''ea'''t
|u
|'''u'''vas
|grapes
|b'''oo'''
|-
|j
| '''j'''ogo
| game
| '''J'''apan
|v
|vento
|wind
|'''v'''erb
|-
|l
| '''l'''ogo
| soon
| '''l'''ake
|x
|cai'''x'''a, Mé'''x'''ico, '''X'''adrez
|box, Mexico, chess
|'''sh'''e
|-
|lh
|a'''lh'''o
|garlic
|''(spanish '''ll''')''
|x
|pró'''x'''imo
|next
|'''s'''ea
|-
|m-
|'''m'''apa
|map
|'''m'''ust
|'''ex'''''(consonant)''
|'''exc'''elente, t'''ext'''o
|excelent, text
|'''s'''ea or '''sh'''e
|-
|-m, -n
|ca'''m'''po, ca'''n'''to, Berli'''m'''
|field, corner, Berlin
|si'''ng'''
|z, exa, exe, exi, exo, exu
|e'''x'''ame, nature'''z'''a
|exam, nature
|'''z'''ero
|}
==Grammar==
''main article:'' [[Portuguese grammar]]
Verbs are divided into three '''declensions''', which can be identified by looking at the infinitive ending, one of "-ar", "-er", "-ir" (and "-or", irregular verbs). Most verbs ends with "-ar", such as ''cantar'' (to sing). All verbs with the same ending follow the same patern.
In Portuguese, verbs are divided into moods:
* ''Imperative''. Used to express a wish, command or advice
* ''Indicative''. Used to express a fact
* ''Subjective''. Used to express a wish or a possibility
The feminine gender in adjectives is formed in a different way to that in nouns. Most adjectives ending in a consonant remain unchanged: ''homem superior'', ''mulher superior''. This is also true for adjectives ending in "e": ''homem forte'', ''mulher forte''. Except for this, the noun and the adjective must always be in agreement.
==Vocabulary==
Since Portuguese is a Romance language, most of the language comes from [[Latin language|Latin]]. However, other languages that have come into contact with Portuguese have left their mark.
===Pre-Roman origin words===
Very few traces of the native (lusitanians, Conians, Calicians or Iberians) or pre-Roman settlers like the Phoenicians, Carthaginians or Celts lexicon persist in the language, but there are some exceptions, most are unconfirmed:
[[Iberian|Native Iberian]]:
*''Abóbora'' (pumpkin)
*''Bezerro'' (year-old calf)
*''Louça'' (claw)
*''Manteiga'' (butter)
*''Sapo'' (frog)
[[Celtic]]:
*''Cabana'' (hut)
*''Cama'' (bed)
*''Camisa'' (shirt)
*''Carvalho''(oak)
*''Cerveja'' (beer)
*''Touca'' (headress)
[[Phoenician]]:
*''Malha'' (mesh)
*''Mapa'' (map)
*''Saco'' (bag)
===Barbarian origin words===
*''Barão'' (baron) from Ger. ''baro''
*''Ganhar'' (to win) from Ger. ''waidanjan''
*''Guerra'' (war) from Got. ''*wirro''
*''Roubar'' (to steal) from Ger. ''raubon''
*''Saga'' (Saga) from Got. ''saega''
===Arabic origin words===
[[Arabic]] loan words represents almost 10 % of the Portuguese lexicon, here are some examples:
*''Alcova'' (Alcove) from ''alkubba''
*''Aldeia'' (village) from ''aldaya''
*''Alface'' (lettuce) from ''alkhass''
*''Algarismo'' (algarism, number) from ''alkarizmi''
*''Almirante'' (admiral) from ''amir'' + ''ar-rahl''
*''Almofada'' (cushion) from ''almukhadda''
*''Âmbar'' (amber) from ''anbar''
*''Armazém'' (warehouse) from ''almahazan''
*''Arroz'' (rice) from ''arruz'' (loan from Greek ''óryza'')
*''Azeite'' (olive oil) from ''azzait''
*''Garrafa'' (bottle) from ''garrafâ''
*''Girafa'' (giraffe) from ''zurafa''
*''Jasmim'' (jasmin) from Persian ''jasamin''
*''Jarra'' (jar) from ''jarra''
*''Xadrez'' (Chess) from ''xatranj'' (loan from Sanscrit ''xaturanga'')
*''Xerife'' (sheriff) from ''xarif''
=== Asian, Amerindian and African origin Words ===
With the Portuguese discoveries a linguistic contact was made, and Portuguese language became influenced by other languages other than European or Arabic.
[[Asian]]:
*''Chá'' (Tea), from Chinese
*''Jangada'' (raft), from Malay
*''Manga'' (mango), from Malay ''mangga''
[[Amerindian]]:
*''Abacaxi'' (pineapple) from Tupi ''ibá'' + ''cati''
*''Caju'' (cashew)
*''Jaguar'' (jaguar) from Tupi-Guarani ''jaguara''
*''Mandioca'' (cassava)
*''Pipoca'' (popcorn)
*''Tatu'' (armadillo) from Guarani ''tatu''
*''Tucano'' (toucan) from Guarani ''tucan''
Sub-saharan [[Africa]]:
*''Banana'' (banana) from Wolof
*''Farra'' (Wild party) from Bantu
*''Chimpanzé'' (chimpanzee) from Bantu
==Writing system==
Portuguese is written using the [[Latin alphabet]] with 26 letters. Three of them (K, W and Y) are only used for non-Portuguese origin words, in terms like Darwinismo ([[Darwinism]], from English "Darwin").
==Examples==
There is a [[:pt:Página principal|Portuguese Wikipedia]]
*Portuguese: ''português'' (Portu-guesh)
*Hello: ''olá'' (AW-LAH) [[Media:Ola.ogg]]
*Goodbye: ''tchau'' (CHAoo) -- "Adeus" is the standard, but it could be seem as offensive.
*Please: ''por favor'' (por faa-VOR)
*Thank you: ''obrigado'' (for men) (aw-bri-GAH-doo); ''obrigada'' (for women) (aw-bri-GAH-da)
*Sorry: ''desculpe'' (desh-KOOL-pe)
*That one: ''esse'' (masculine); ''essa'' (feminine) (e-se; e-sa - the firt "e" as in "them")
*How much?: ''quanto'' (KWAHNG-too)
*English: ''inglês'' (ing-GLESH - the "e" as in "them")
*yes: ''sim'' (as for English "sing")
*no: ''não'' (as for English "now", with nazalization)
*I don't understand: ''Não percebo'' (now per-se-boo - the "e" as in "them")
*Where's the bathroom?: ''Onde fica o quarto de banho?'' (ONG-dee FIH-ka oo kwartoo dee BANG-oo) - for Portugal; ''Onde fica o banheiro?'' (ONG-de FIH-ka oo BANG-eh-roo)- for Brazil
*generic toast: ''tchin-tchin'' (cheang-cheang); saúde (sa-OO-de)
*Do you speak English?: ''Fala inglês?'' (FAH-la ING-glesh)
''See also:'' [[List of tongue-twisters]]- [[Common phrases in different languages]]
=== Literature ===
''main article:'' [[Portuguese literature]]
To English speakers, the most famous writer in the Portuguese language is the poet [[Luis de Camões|Luís Vaz de Camoes]] or Luís Vaz Camoens ([[1524]]-[[June 10]], [[1580]]), author of the epic poem, the ''[[Lusiadas|Lusiad]].''
Some others are also internationally widily known, such as: [[Eça de Queirós]] ([[1845]] - [[1900]]) is the most famous Portuguese novelist. [[Fernando Pessoa]] ([[1888]] - [[1935]]) was a famous Portuguese poet, one of the greatest in the Portuguese language history. [[Jorge Amado]] ([[1912]] - [[2001]]) was a famous Brazilian novelist, very popular in Brazil and in Portugal. And, the Portuguese [[José Saramago]] (born [[1922]]) awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1998.
== Notes ==
* [1] First and Second with first language speakers, respectively. Only counting figures from Andorra, Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, China (Macao), East Timor, Guinea-Bissau, India (Goa, Daman), Luxembourg, Mozambique, Portugal and São Tomé and Príncipe (Not including Galicia and others). Considering second language speakers those people who are bilingual and use Portuguese as a second language.
* [2] Galicia is only included as a Portuguese language territory due that is confirmed that both ''languages'' are co-dialects. The government of Galicia regards Galician as a separate language.
* [3] ''A Fala'' is not recognized by the Spanish authorities to be a Portuguese dialect, althought there has been attempts to consider it Galician, but the locals do not want to use the Galician orthography. ''A Fala'' differs very few from the neighbouring Portuguese dialect in the other side of the border, but it will probably be recognized (if it will be) as a separate language.
== External links ==
*[http://www.ethnologue.org/show_language.asp?code=POR Ethnologue report for Portuguese]
* [http://199.33.141.196/courses/idm2002/leung/oportugues/intro/pronunciation.html Pronunciation guide]
* [http://alfarrabio.um.geira.pt/spl/ Short Portuguese Lessons]
* [http://natura.di.uminho.pt/~jj/pln/calao/dicionario.pdf Diccionary of Vernacular Portuguese of Portugal, Brazil and Angola]
* [http://www.saunalahti.fi/~huuhilo/portuguese/ Introduction to Brazilian Portuguese]
* [http://polyglot.lss.wisc.edu/lss/lang/portuguese.html Portuguese Language Resources]
* [http://www.instituto-camoes.pt/bases/lingua/portugueselanguage.htm The Portuguese Language Perspectives for the 21st Century]
* [http://www.vidaslusofonas.pt/introduction.htm Lives of the Portuguese-speaking World]
* [http://www.bn.pt Biblioteca Nacional] (Portugal)
* [http://www.bn.br Biblioteca Nacional] (Brazil)
[[ca:Portuguès]]
[[eo:Portugala lingvo]]
[[es:portugués]]
[[de:Portugiesische Sprache]]
[[fr:Portugais]]
[[gl:Portugués]]
[[it:Lingua portoghese]]
[[nl:portugees]]
[[pl:J%EAzyk portugalski]]
[[pt:Português]]
[[ro:Limba portugheză]]
[[tokipona:toki Potuke]]
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