Language is the first tool that breaks the barriers and bring the humans and communities closer to one another. A community survives with common language and becomes a nation while the nations shape good relations with the help of mutual understanding that is built and strengthened if they speak the same language. Portuguese Language Day on May 5 this year conveyed the message that your language is your asset , your identity and your pride among the comity of the nations.
Ambassador of Portugal H.E Mr. Frederico Silva, being himself a literary person and history lover arranged special events to celebrate the great Portuguese language day in Lahore , Pakistan capital of culture and literature and Islamabad in collaboration with Ambassador of Brazil H.E Mr. Olyntho Vieira.
On 11 May , the center of celebration was Lahore where two events attracted the literary people of the historical city of Pakistan. The first event was interactive talk co-organized with the Aga Khan Cultural Service on “History and Art, Heritage Preservation” and “UNESCO classified sites in Pakistan, Portugal and Brazil.”
Second event was co-organized with the Alhamra Arts Council and the Lahore Literary Festival. Main topics will include Portuguese Language around the world, Literatures of Lusophone Countries, Literary Festivals in Pakistan, Portugal and Brazil, literary work of Guiomar de Grammont.
On 16 May, the celebration returned to Islamabad where both Ambassadors hosted a reception on the occasion of the World Day of the Portuguese Language and the Lusophone Culture at the Residence of the Embassy of Brazil.
H.E Mr. Olyntho Vieira welcomed the guests who included envoys from different countries, government officials, academia, civil society representatives and media persons. H.E noted that language depicts your culture and traditions. He said that Portuguese language is linking different regions and continents into the bond of one community.
H.E Mr,Frederico Silva, in his keynote address about the language, apprised the guests about the coverage of Portuguese in the world and highlighted the role of language in bridging the gaps between the nations of 5 continents of the world.
” At present, 9 independent countries of the world have Portuguese as official language. They include Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Sao Tome e Principe, Equatorial Guinea, Timor-Leste in Asia, H.E Silva shared the information.
These 9 countries occupy an area of 10.8 million square km, about 7.25% of the land surface of the Earth. CPLP , The Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries is the international organization that emphasizes common linguistic and cultural policies, as well as cooperation in the areas of education, health , science, technology and defense. It enhances mutual friendship and cooperation among its members. It was established on July 17, 1996. It holds about 50 observer organizations and nations.
Portuguese Language is a part of Ibero-Romance group derived from the Latin tree of languages. It is a dominantly consonant sounding language with Celtic phonology. Portuguese has approximately 250 million total speaker, 230 million native speakers and 30 million second language speakers.
Representing about 3.7% of the world’s population and hold approximately 4% of the total wealth. Portuguese is the most spoken language in the Southern Hemisphere.
Listed globally as the fifth most spoke native language, third most spoken European language globally and the second most spoken Romance language in the world. Speaker of Portuguese are called “Lusophone” (Lusofonos).
The rising importance of the Portuguese language has been in the media and the subject of academic studies with a global impact. Portuguese is used as a native language in the 5 continents , parallel only to the English language. Portuguese is the world’s fourth most spoken language. It also has one of the highest growth rates as a second language on the internet, social networks and learning as a foreign language.
Portuguese is the fifth most used language on the Internet. It enjoyed the fourth largest growth rate. Portuguese is the third most used language on Facebook and has registered the highest growth rate.
Renown playwright, Prof. Guiomar de Grammont is visiting Pakistan in connection with the celebration of Portuguese Language Day. She participated in the events in Lahore and she was present at the reception at Brazil Residence as well. She also addressed to the guests and expressed her gratitude for warm welcome and hospitality of Pakistanis.
Prof. Guiomar de Grammont, from Ouro Preto, is a renowned author, poet, dramatist, historian, and professor. With a PhD in Brazilian Literature from USP, as an author she has been a recipient of the Casa de Las Americas Award and the Pen-Club National Award, amongst others.
As a playwright, she has staged seven plays in Brazil, including “Olympia” which toured all over Latin America and Europe. Former executive editor of National Fiction at Record. Prof. Guiomar has curated multiple global book festivals including Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, Lisbon, and Paris.
5th May is the World Day of Portuguese Speaking Communities and Cultures. In 2019, under the 40th session of the General Conference of UNESCO, it was proclaimed that the 5th of May of each year would be commemorated “International Day of Portuguese Language”.
Pakistan also has a special connection with Portugal in a sense that the great explorer of Portugal Vasco Da Gama is known by all Pakistanis very well. He traveled to the sub continent between 1497-99. It was his first voyage to united sub continent Indo Pak. He was the first European to travel to sub continent followed by English and French.
A large number of Pakistanis are working in Portugal. The Portuguese language is learnt, spoken by them. It makes a relation between the two countries that can be strengthened and converted into meaningful economic cooperation through further enhancing the understanding of the language. there are many common words in our both languages.
Tazeen Akhtar
Language is the first tool that breaks the barriers and bring the humans and communities closer to one another. A community survives with common language and becomes a nation while the nations shape good relations with the help of mutual understanding that is built and strengthened if they speak the same language. Portuguese Language Day on May 5 this year conveyed the message that your language is your asset , your identity and your pride among the comity of the nations.
