Thursday 23 September 2010

New Orthographic Agreement of the Portuguese Language

In 2008 the Portuguese Government and the Governments of all Portuguese speaking countries signed a New Orthographic Agreement for the Portuguese Language. According to them, this will unify the language creating a better understanding and a better tool in the fight against illiteracy.

But the measure has already caused some controversy and even a petition has been created, to pursue Governments to abandon the document. Among linguists, including our Team, there is a feeling of loss of identity. Like other languages in the world,  Portuguese is spoken in several countries around the world, from Africa to Brazil. Each one of these countries has its own History, its own culture and therefore developed its language in a different way from the mother language, Portuguese from  Portugal. Portugal itself didn’t stay stuck in time. The country evolved and so evolved its language. 

That’s why this document is causing such a stir in Portuguese speaking communities around the world, who believe their traditions and culture is being jeopardised by the document.

As professionals, we have to respect the rules and codes of each language we work with. We can’t be partial and we always have to obey the law. However, and also as professionals that we are, we can’t agree with this document and we won’t be complying with its rulings until a decision is made and we are officially forced to. Updated Words Team respects the culture of every country, and its right to have its own language. So for that reason we are against this document.

To learn more about the document, visit:

To sign the petition against the document visit:
UPDATED WORDS TEAM

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