Academies and Language Rules

The first grammars; the first printed text by Luís de Camões; Father António Vieira; the orthographic agreement; Royal Reading Office, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Brazilian Academy of Letters; Lisbon Academy of Sciences.

First grammar of the Portuguese language (1536) by National Library of PortugalObservatory of the Portuguese Language

Grammar of the Portuguese language by Fernão de Oliveira, published in 1536, and the Portuguese grammar of João de Barros, given to the print in 1540, are assumed, along with others that followed them, as fundamental works for knowledge and study of our language, being also important landmarks of our linguistic memory and pioneering works of the grammatical historiography of the Portuguese language.

One of the first two grammars of Portuguese (1540) by National Library of PortugalObservatory of the Portuguese Language

The Portuguese grammar of João de Barros, given to the stamp in 1540.

First printed poem by Luís Vaz de Camões (page1) (1563) by National Library of PortugalObservatory of the Portuguese Language

The Ode of Luís de Camões to the Count of Redondo asking for his sponsorship for the publication of the “ Colóquios dos simples e drogas da Índia”, which was the first print of the Poet and in this edition (page1)

First printed poem by Luís Vaz de Camões (page2) (1563) by National Library of PortugalObservatory of the Portuguese Language

Luís de Camões "Ode to the Count of Redondo" (page 2)

First printed poem by Luís Vaz de Camões (page3) (1563) by National Library of PortugalObservatory of the Portuguese Language

Luís de Camões "Ode to the Count of Redondo" (page 3)

Father António Vieira (2010) by AnonymousObservatory of the Portuguese Language

The Nobel Prize in Literature José Saramago said of Father António Vieira:

"... because the Portuguese language was never more beautiful than when he wrote it",

and Fernando Pessoa in his work "Mensagem" wrote:

"The sky stars the blue and has greatness; had fame and glory has; Emperor of the Portuguese language; It was heaven for us too. "

The Portuguese Language Spelling Agreement (AO) (1990) by Nelson Lourenço (Flikr)Observatory of the Portuguese Language

Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement

The Portuguese Language Spelling Agreement (AO), signed in 1990 by  Angola, Brasil, Cabo Verde, Guiné-Bissau, Moçambique, Portugal e São Tomé e Príncipe. and later adopted by Timor-Leste, reflects a common political purpose: to give the language the possible unity (but not an unattainable uniqueness)

Always showing himself against the existence of two orthographic standards in force in Portuguese, which weaken the language from the outside point of view, Prof. João Malaca Casteleiro believed that we should concentrate efforts only on the same standard, with orthographic variants, of the rest, similar to what happens with English and Spanish.

For this very reason, as he is well known, he was primarily responsible, on the part of the Lisbon Science Academy, for the 1990 Orthographic Agreement and for its long “Explanatory Note” attached.

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Brazilian Academy of Letters

The Brazilian Academy of Letters, based in Rio de Janeiro, aims at the culture of national language and literature.

The 5th edition of the Portuguese Language Spelling Vocabulary (VOLP) incorporates the Bases of the Portuguese Language Spelling Agreement approved in Lisbon on October 12, 1990.

With this project approved, the Portuguese language leaves behind the condition of being a language whose cultural and political weight finds, in the presence of two official orthographic systems, uncomfortable hindrance to its prestige and international diffusion.

Lisbon Academy of Sciences (2017) by David Fitzgerald/Web Summit via SportsfileObservatory of the Portuguese Language

Lisbon Science Academy (Academia das Ciências de Lisboa)

According to the Statutes of the Lisbon Science Academy, "The Academy is the Portuguese Government's consultative body on linguistic matters".

The Institute of Lexicology and Lexicography of the Portuguese Language is responsible for promoting the creation of reference works in Portuguese.

The Lexicography and Lexicology Commission is committed to the preparation of a new Dictionary, as well as the updating of the Orthographic Vocabulary.

Credits: Story

- National Library of Mozambique.
- National Library of Portugal.
- Nelson Lourenço (Flickr).
- Prof. Dr. João Malaca Casteleiro.
- Prof. Dr. Carla Sofia and Alexandre Luís, University of Beira Interior.
- Brazilian Academy of Letters.
- Lisbon Science Academy.

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.
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