[lit-ideas] Re: Are Spanish and Portuguese synonymous?
- From: JimKandJulieB@xxxxxxx
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2007 16:14:46 EST
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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