Expansion of the Portuguese language around the world (2016) by Eduardo LourençoObservatory of the Portuguese Language

Disseminated throughout the world, the Portuguese language was staying here and there.

The language makes the people. (2016) by Eduardo LourençoObservatory of the Portuguese Language

It cannot be said in any language that it is an invention of the people who speak it. The opposite would be more accurate. She invents us.

Eduardo Lourenço photo (2014) by Paulo Cunha/LUSA - Portuguese News AgencyObservatory of the Portuguese Language

Language is Culture (1970) by Umberto EcoObservatory of the Portuguese Language

The truth is that languages cannot have been born by convention since, in order to agree on its rules, men would need an earlier language.

Photo of Umberto Eco (1984) by Bogaerts, Rob / AnefoObservatory of the Portuguese Language

Lusophony transcends the linguistic issue (2016) by Lauro MoreiraObservatory of the Portuguese Language

LUSOPHONY
transcends the linguistic issue.

It is the priceless historical heritage
generated by an intercultural and interethnic dialogue,
anchored in a common language and
in the coexistence of several peoples over five centuries.

Photo of Lauro Moreira (2019) by Observatory of the Portuguese LanguageObservatory of the Portuguese Language

Lusophony is a complex web of differences. (2015) by Guilherme d'Oliveira MartinsObservatory of the Portuguese Language

(...) We have the oldest stable borders in Europe, we are the third most spoken European language in the world and the most used language in the southern hemisphere.

Our identity has been affirmed over time, since the 12th century, from its capacity to enrich itself through contact with other identities and other cultures.

Lusophony is a complex web of differences. And, as Vieira said in his «Clavis Prophetarum», it is a prefiguration of the whole respect for the eminent dignity of all people.

Photo of Guilherme d'Oliveira Martins (2015) by Tiago Petinga/LUSA - Portuguese News AgencyObservatory of the Portuguese Language

The historic place of Portugal (2012) by Miguel RealObservatory of the Portuguese Language

If Europe is the natural place of Portugal, its historical place is, today, the Lusophone.

The Discoveries made us, constituted our time as historical adults, sealed our national identity.

Photo of Miguel Real (2006) by Manuel de Almeida / LUSA - Portuguese News AgencyObservatory of the Portuguese Language

The Word is a Creature (1920) by Teixeira de PascoaesObservatory of the Portuguese Language

Yes: the Word is a Creature;

therefore, it has its anatomy and its psychology, worthy of the love, respect and affection that deserves everything that it lives. You can't deal with words like you deal with stones.

Photo of Teixeira de Pascoaes (1920) by Teixeira de PascoaesObservatory of the Portuguese Language

Portuguese words, such as “saudade” and “alvoroço” (1955) by Álvaro RibeiroObservatory of the Portuguese Language

Many Portuguese words, such as “saudade” and “alvoroço”, represent fundamental experiences that, phenomenologically studied, open the way to notions that stimulate the peculiarity of our thinking.

Universal only thought completely without expression.

Photo of Alvaro Ribeiro (1955) by Álvaro RibeiroObservatory of the Portuguese Language

Now Portugal is the entire Portuguese-speaking territory (1980) by Agostinho da SilvaObservatory of the Portuguese Language

From Europe's rectangle we have moved on to something totally different.

Now Portugal is the entire Portuguese-speaking territory.

Brazilians may call it Brazil and Mozambicans may call it Mozambique.

It is a homeland extended to all men.

There has to be (...) a message from the set, that is, there has to be something that expresses, in general, men who speak, in their various cultures and modalities, the Portuguese language.

Photo of Agostinho da Silva (1980) by Association Agostinho da SilvaObservatory of the Portuguese Language

My homeland is the Portuguese language (1914) by Fernando PessoaObservatory of the Portuguese Language

I have no political or social feeling.
However, I have, in a sense, a high patriotic feeling.

My homeland is the Portuguese language.

Nothing would weigh me down if they invaded or took over Portugal, as long as they didn't bother me personally.
But I hate it, with real hatred, with the only hatred I feel, (...) the poorly written page (...), the wrong syntax (...)

Yes, because the spelling is also people. The word is completely seen and heard.

Photo of Fernando Pessoa (1914) by Nelson BrazUkAObservatory of the Portuguese Language

What are the top 200 most spoken languages? (2020) by Ethnologue and OLPObservatory of the Portuguese Language

In the 2019 edition, Ethnologue presents the 200 most spoken languages in the world.

This classification identifies the number of native speakers and those who speak a language as a second language.

The number of native speakers of Portuguese was updated according to the calculation presented in this video.

Credits: Story

- Tiago Petinga / LUSA - Portuguese News Agency
- Paulo Cunha / LUSA - Portuguese News Agency
- Agostinho da Silva Association



Author: Francisco Nuno Ramos, Observatory of the Portuguese Language

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.