Brazilian Street Slang

What Is Street Slang?

No, street slang is not some sort of incredibly slow moving urban sewer beast that lurks deep beneath the city's infrastructure. It is a form of expression not introduced in the dictionary. Street slang is considered a "language" all of its own. It is not recognized by traditional language - in my particular case, Brazilian Portuguese. It is a set of codes that people use to converse in a secret society. Only members of that society know the code. Outsiders must learn the culture of the society if they wish to learn the "code". Does this pretty much explain your experiences with learning a new language? Only to find out that - wow! - there is so much more for me to learn beyond just common Portuguese, or Spanish, or Japanese, or Italian, or what ever it is you learnt. I remember saying to myself many a times "Brazilians speak Portuguese or am I missing something here?" Yeah, I really felt left out. Like an outsider. Like I had wasted all that time learning the tongue just to find out how much further I had to travel. But, you can't expect to get an invitation to a party if you don't know the people on the guest list do you?

Brazilian Expression vs English

I used to think that the English language was one of the most expressive languages in existence. There are many ways to say, for example; let's say you are hungry. You could say:

I'm hungryI'm starvingI'm so hungry I could eat a horseI'm dying of hungerI'm so hungryI'm so hungry I could eat a raw dog

Or how about this one:

Yeah, I remember that one from Winnie-the-Pooh. So what about the Portuguese versions?

Eu tou com fomeEu estou morrendo de fomeEu estou famintoEu tou com muita fome

Or lets say you just arrived at your aunt Betty's house and you wish to announce your arrival. You could say:

I'm hereI have arrivedI made itRoll out the red carpet

In Portuguese, could be:

Eu chegueiChegueiEu tou aquiEu acabo de chegar

Alright, maybe that was a little out there with the red carpet, but There is a whole new world of expression to be learned in the Brazilian Portuguese language. It is a constant evolving process. And anyone else who has learned any language will probably tell you the same. Street slang is as much a part of a language as its traditional parts.

Learn Brazilian Portuguese phrases, verbs, expressions, grammar, and even crossword puzzles. Site is frequently updated. Also, visit http://www.thebrazilianlanguage.com/ facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Brazilian-Language/193167957402049?ref=hnav

Webmaster of thebrazilianlanguage.com - Daniel Baker
Macapa, Amapa, Brazil

View the original article here

[Read More...]

The Brazilian Portuguese Language

In Brazil the overall language is Portuguese although it has a typical Brazilian flavor to it. Although there are many dialects the language is basically the same. Since 1960 when news broadcasts became common the SE dialect has gained popularity.

There is some controversy over how far the original Portuguese has diversified due to these dialects, in Brazil. The written language remains the same but differs when spoken by the various local dialects. The grammar remains the same but different words have crept into the vocabulary of the language, giving it a Brazilian flavor. Spellings differ and it has now become similar to English and American.

It has become the national language of Brazil because of Portuguese settlers who have been in the country since the 16th century. At first the language mingled with the various tongues that prevailed at the time. However by the end of the 18 century Portuguese was well established as the language of the country. This was largely due to the large influx of immigrants using this tongue and their slaves. The settlers threw out the Jesuits who taught the local language and established their own tongue.

If you want to be truly fluent in Brazilian Portuguese then it is wise to learn the idioms and slang that the locals use. You will then get a compete feel for the language and really speak it like a native. You can do this by getting a slang dictionary or simply talking to people in Brazil. Many of the slang words are derived from foods.

Brazilian Portuguese is a fun language to learn because it gives you access to a diverse country. Brazil is an exciting place to visit and if you know the tongue, you can enjoy the country even more by talking to the people. There is nothing like mingling with the locals to really get the flavor of a country.

And this way, you are able to learn the language with ease. You will have all the time to enjoy the country and not have to worry about getting tongue tied trying to come up with the words in which to speak. Or to find a translator to speak the words for you.

Brazil has a rich history of culture in its roots. Learn the language well, and you will gain the knowledge and wisdom to navigate the labyrinth of Brazil's expansive cultural dynamics in which it is well known.

Webmaster of http://www.thebrazilianlanguage.com/ - Daniel Baker
Learn Brazilian Portuguese phrases, verbs, expressions, grammar, and even crossword puzzles. Site is frequently updated. Also, visit The Brazilian language facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Brazilian-Language/193167957402049?ref=hnav

The Brazilian Language Macapá, Amapá, Brazil

View the original article here

[Read More...]