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Reform spells change for Portugal | Reform spells change for Portugal |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Portugal's parliament has voted to introduce contentious changes to the Portuguese language in order to spell hundreds of words the Brazilian way. | Portugal's parliament has voted to introduce contentious changes to the Portuguese language in order to spell hundreds of words the Brazilian way. |
The agreement standardises numerous spellings and adds three letters - k, w and y - to the alphabet. | The agreement standardises numerous spellings and adds three letters - k, w and y - to the alphabet. |
A large majority of lawmakers backed government proposals to phase in the changes during the next six years. | A large majority of lawmakers backed government proposals to phase in the changes during the next six years. |
But a petition against the move was signed by 33,000 people who argue it is a capitulation to Brazilian influence. | But a petition against the move was signed by 33,000 people who argue it is a capitulation to Brazilian influence. |
Proponents counter the move will make the language more uniform globally, making such things as internet searches and legal documents easier to understand. | Proponents counter the move will make the language more uniform globally, making such things as internet searches and legal documents easier to understand. |
The agreement will standardise spelling by removing silent consonants in order for words to be spelt more phonetically, turning, for example "optimo" (great) into "otimo". | The agreement will standardise spelling by removing silent consonants in order for words to be spelt more phonetically, turning, for example "optimo" (great) into "otimo". |
Friday's vote came after a unified form of the Portuguese language was originally agreed with seven Portuguese-speaking countries in 1991. | Friday's vote came after a unified form of the Portuguese language was originally agreed with seven Portuguese-speaking countries in 1991. |
The official language of more than 230m people worldwide, Portuguese is spoken in Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, East Timor, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and Sao Tome and Principe, as well as Portugal. | |
Portugal's President Anibal Cavaco Silva is now expected to ratify the accord. | Portugal's President Anibal Cavaco Silva is now expected to ratify the accord. |
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