2. WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND HISTORY
WHEN IT COMES TO THE LANGUAGES OF
THE COUNTRY?
Brazil was discovered by the Portuguese in 1500 by Pedro
Álvares Cabral. When they arrived in Brazil, the Portuguese found
6 to 10 million Amerindians (indigenous population). This
population spoke about 1300 different languages. It is estimated
that today there are 170,000 Amerindians and that this population
speaks about 180 languages. Portuguese Jesuit missionaries are
believed to have made some effort to study and learn some of
these languages in order to build positive ties with local people.
There are about 205 million Portuguese speakers in Brazil.
3. HOW DID LANGUAGE CHANGE HAPPEN
IN STABLISHING THEIR NATIONAL
LANGUAGE?
Portuguese is the first language of the vast majority of
Brazilians, but numerous foreign words have expanded the
national lexicon. The Portuguese language has undergone many
transformations, both in the mother country and in its former
colony, since it was first introduced into Brazil in the 16th century.
The two countries have largely standardized their spellings, but
pronunciations, vocabularies, and the meanings of words have
diverged so widely that it now may be easier for some Brazilians to
understand Spanish-language films from other Latin American
countries than films from Portugal.
4. WHAT ARE THE REASONS BEHIND THE
LANGUAGE CHANGE?
• Expansion of Colonization to the Brazilian interior
• The growing numbers of Portuguese settlers
5. WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS OF THE
LANGUAGE CHANGE TO ESTABLISHING
THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE AND TO THE
CITIZEN?
Simplified the Portuguese through the elimination of many accents
marks, and many silent letters.
