[lit-ideas] Re: Are Spanish and Portuguese synonymous?

Yes, yes.  As I mentioned, my sister-in-law is from the DR (her  parents 
still speak only halting English); I was fluent in both French and  Spanish 
several years ago; I am acquainted in my community with people from  Brazil, 
Morocco, etc.  I had a very good friend, several years ago, from  Spain -- she 
spoke 
the Castilian Spanish.  I learned very quickly that  there is a rather 
significant difference between that of her dialect and the  many migrant 
workers who 
reside in my Aunt's area -- Washington, close to  Seattle.  I understand what 
you're saying, because I can far more easily  understand someone who is 
speaking Italian than someone who is speaking  Portuguese -- which is odd to 
me, 
because P. is allegedly closer to  Spanish.  However, I digress (if I didn't, 
you 
wouldn't know it was  me).  I'm still questioning the uses and applications 
of the terms "Latino"  and "Hispanic".  There are the Mexican-Spanish speakers, 
etc. -- to  which groups are "Hispanic" and "Latino" accurately applied by 
those who are  gringos <s> or by themselves?
 
Julie Krueger
not sure why I'm so invested in this

========Original Message========     Subj: [lit-ideas] Are Spanish and 
Portuguese synonymous?  Date: 1/28/2007 1:14:15 P.M. Central Standard Time  
From: 
_eyost1132@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (mailto:eyost1132@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)   To: 
_lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (mailto:lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)   Sent on:    
>>I guess my question was really, is the  Hispanic/Latino a divide of 
language or of culture?


Both. The  languages are not at all interchangeable, and attempts to 
understand  Portuguese by knowledge of Spanish are distorted by false 
cognates. For  example:

Portuguese cachorro = dog
Spanish cachorro = puppy or kitten  (baby animal); the Spanish perro = dog

Spanish calle =  street
Portuguese rua = street

The grammar of Portuguese is different.  In Portuguese there are no 
reflexive verbs.

Portuguese Eu gosto = I  like ...
In Spanish = me gusta = (something likes the speaker)

Another  example: when TV cable companies started in Brazil, they 
broadcasted shows  from Argentina in Spanish. The companies received 
millions of calls from the  Brazilian viewers, who demanded either 
subtitles or Brazilian language  translation. The response was so 
overwhelming, the TV stations complied with  a month.

As for culture, Brazilians generally consider the Spanish very  rude. 
Brazilians are very cautious, for example, in expressing disdain or  
discomfort. The Spanish tend to be very blunt.

Also, the Spanish  cultures' relation to death (Eva Peron cult, day of 
the dead) is extremely  alien to the Portuguese-speaking Brazilians.

It's easier for Brazilians  to understand the language and culture of the 
French (whose university  system was a model for the Brazilian) or the 
Italians (where there is more  linguistic and cultural  compatibility).




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