Nheengatu, the language spoken in Brazil
Until the middle of 18th century, the main language spoken in Brazil was the General Language, also known as "Brasili Language". This language has born from the needs of the Jesuit Priests on teach to the indians the true salvation of their souls, that they only could get if they knew about Jesus Christ. The Jesuits have thought that could be better if they learn the Indians Language, instead of teach them the Portuguese. So, they tried to learn the natives language meanwhile the natives also wanted to learn portuguese, and from this mix of desires has born the General Language of Brazil. At the first time that the Portugueses arrived to Brazil, they were too more men than women, so they catched many indians women as wife. The boys who has born from these marriages were raised listening to Portuguese and Indian language. Few years ago, when the Africans begun to be brought as slaves, they also gave their contribuition to new language. This is a long history, but the most important is that this language has molded the way as the Brazilians speak portuguese so different of the way that Portuguese people speak.
To make this history short, the General Language was almost totaly
killed by the Portugueses at end of the 19th century and just 19600 peoples (source: Wikipedia) know how to speak it. These people live mainly in the North of Brazil and they call that language of Nheengatu.
Search from various English teachers...
Corrections · 4
0
Nheengatu, the language spoken in Brazil
Until the middle of the 18th century, the main language spoken in Brazil was the General Language, also known as the "Brasili Language".This language has was born from the due to the needs of the Jesuit Priests on to teach to the indians the true salvation of their souls, that they only could get if they knew about Jesus Christ.
The Jesuits have thought that it could be better if they learn the Indian's Language, instead of teaching them the Portuguese.
So, they tried to learn the natives language meanwhile the natives also wanted to learn portuguese, and from this mix of desires has born the General Language of Brazil was born.
At the The first time that the Portugueses arrived to Brazil, they were too there were much more men than women, so they catched many indians women took many of the indian women as wife wives.
The boys children who has were born from these marriages were raised listening to Portuguese and the Indian language.
Few years ago A few years after, when the Africans were begun to be brought as slaves, they also gave their contribuition to a new language.
This is a long history, but the most important thing is that this language has molded the way reason as the Brazilians speak portuguese so differently of than the way that Portuguese people speak.
To make this history short, the General Language was almost totally (completely) killed by the Portugueses at end of the 19th century and just only 19600 peoples (source: Wikipedia) know how to speak it. These people live mainly in the North of Brazil and they call that the language of Nheengatu.
0
You are welcome. Na verdade, gosto de escrever sobre as coisas do Brasil. E este texto resumido é apenas uma pequena parte da nossa história idiomática. Na verdade, apesar de extinta desde o final do século 19, a Lingua Geral está presente no dia a dia dos brasileiros e a falamos o tempo inteiro sem perceber. Principalmente no que se refere a nome de lugares e coisas. Lugares como o Parque do Ibirapuera, (Ibirapuera em nheengatu significa "o lugar onde está a árvore morta), Anhanguera (que significa Diabo velho), etc. Existem cerca de 30 mil palavras em português que são sentenças completas em Nheengatu.
0
Thank you for the this story. That was very interesting. We, European, know so little about Brazil, its culture and e the history.
Want to progress faster?
Join this learning community and try out free exercises!
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!
Start Learning Today
