Essential Facts Regarding The Portuguese Language That You Need To Understand
Portuguese is a language that is spoken by almost 300 million people across 11 different countries and is the 5th most popular language in the world in terms of the number of speakers. It is amazing that in spite of this, many people in the United States are unaware that Portuguese is very different from Spanish. If you want to portuguese language courses, there are a few things you should learn about the language and its speakers.
When preparing for a tour of South America, do not make the mistake of learning just Spanish. Brazil is home to the largest population of Portuguese speakers and is located in South America. Although many people think they will be able to get by speaking Spanish in Brazil, the two languages are actually very different and often times Portuguese speakers will not understand much of Spanish.
Despite the fact that the Portuguese language was brought to Brazil from Portugal, the two dialects of Portuguese are very different. European Portuguese is considered the standard dialect and it has a much more complex grammar structure. The two languages differ in relation to their phonology, syntax and vocabulary.
Because of the African slaves that were brought over when slavery was rampant in Brazil, the Portuguese spoken there today has African elements. In addition to the African language’s influence, the languages of various native Indian tribes living in Brazil at the time of colonization have had a strong influence on the language as well. It is because of these specific influences that Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese differ so drastically.
Portuguese is not just the official language of Brazil and Portugal but 9 other countries as well. Portuguese is spoken in several areas of Africa such as Angola, Mozambique and Cape Verde. In addition, it is one of the official languages of East Timor and Macau, in Asia. That means that Portuguese is spoken in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. Not to mention the expansive immigrant populations in the United States.
Traveling to a country without being able to speak their native language is a risky idea. Usually, residents will appreciate if you attempt to at least learn basic phrases in their language. Instead of assuming that everyone speaks English, enroll in a language course so you can be better prepared for travel.
Since Portuguese is a major language spoken all over the world, it should not be hard finding a course in your home town. If you can find a native speaker to do one-on-one conversation courses with you, it will be beneficial. Make sure the language course you take actually teaches the dialect of Portuguese you need to know. Although learning European Portuguese to travel to Brazil is better than nothing, you should continue searching for a different class.
Some people who speak Spanish find it easier to learn Portuguese. The two languages have similar linguistic elements. However, the phonology of Portuguese is quite different from Spanish and this can prove to be a difficult adaptation for a lot of Spanish speakers. Learning Portuguese on your own from a book is generally very difficult because the language is like nothing you have ever heard before. You will probably have more success buying a language training CD or investing in grammar lessons. However, it is not just enough to be able to read or speak Portuguese. You also have to be able to understand others speaking Portuguese. This is where using CDs will come in handy.
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