Guinean Portuguese
Encyclopedia
Guinean Portuguese is the variety of Portuguese spoken in Guinea-Bissau
, where it is the official language.
and Mozambique
, and it is also a creole society, like Cape Verde
and São Tomé e Príncipe.
Rather than Portuguese, it is Guinea-Bissau Creole which serves as the lingua franca and the vehicle of national identity spoken as both a first and second language. Thus Portuguese, for those who speak it, is often a third language. The native Portuguese speakers in Guinea-Bissau are mostly white Guineans. The reduction of native Portuguese speakers is caused by leave of most white Guineans to Portugal or Brazil and by civil war that affected education. The majority of the approximately 15% of Guineans who speak Portuguese are concentrated in an area of the capital city, Bissau, known as 'a Praça'. The variety of Guinea Bissau Creole spoken in the capital, Kriol di Bissau, is known for being more Lusitanized
, borrowing words more freely from Portuguese.
The standard phonology is European Portuguese
. But for second- and third-language speakers, it is affected by phonologies of native languages and resembles Brazilian Portuguese
.
, Mandingos
, Manjacos, and Balante
) before the nation became a permanent Portuguese
overseas territory. The number of Portuguese speakers was large during Portuguese rule
, although mestiços
and most blacks speak a Portuguese Creole
called Guinea-Bissau Creole, which is a more widely spoken lingua franca
of the nation. After independence, when most Portuguese left, Portuguese speakers were reduced to less than 10% because of civil war that affected education, although it remained the official language of the country.
ian, and PALOP (mostly Angola
n) teachers entered to increase Portuguese fluency among blacks. In 2005, in order to increase Portuguese fluency, there was an agreement between Guinean officials and Instituto Camões
, which already had a center in Bissau
, to open centers in other towns of the country: Canchungo
, Ongoré, Mansoa
, Bafatá
, Gabú
, Buba
, Catió
, Bolama
, Bubaque
, and Quinhamel
. The percentage of Portuguese speakers increased to 14%.
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
, where it is the official language.
Prevalence
Guinea-Bissau is unique among the African member states of the CPLP in that it is both highly diverse linguistically, like AngolaAngola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, and it is also a creole society, like Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
and São Tomé e Príncipe.
Rather than Portuguese, it is Guinea-Bissau Creole which serves as the lingua franca and the vehicle of national identity spoken as both a first and second language. Thus Portuguese, for those who speak it, is often a third language. The native Portuguese speakers in Guinea-Bissau are mostly white Guineans. The reduction of native Portuguese speakers is caused by leave of most white Guineans to Portugal or Brazil and by civil war that affected education. The majority of the approximately 15% of Guineans who speak Portuguese are concentrated in an area of the capital city, Bissau, known as 'a Praça'. The variety of Guinea Bissau Creole spoken in the capital, Kriol di Bissau, is known for being more Lusitanized
Lusophone
A Lusophone is someone who speaks the Portuguese language, either as a native, as an additional language, or as a learner. As an adjective, it means "Portuguese-speaking"...
, borrowing words more freely from Portuguese.
The standard phonology is European Portuguese
European Portuguese
European Portuguese refers to the variety of Portuguese spoken in continental Portugal, as well as the Azores and Madeira islands...
. But for second- and third-language speakers, it is affected by phonologies of native languages and resembles Brazilian Portuguese
Brazilian Portuguese
Brazilian Portuguese is a group of Portuguese dialects written and spoken by most of the 190 million inhabitants of Brazil and by a few million Brazilian emigrants, mainly in the United States, United Kingdom, Portugal, Canada, Japan and Paraguay....
.
History
Portuguese was used as a communication between Portuguese settlers and different black tribes (most are FulasFula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
, Mandingos
Mandinka people
The Mandinka, Malinke are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa with an estimated population of eleven million ....
, Manjacos, and Balante
Balanta people
The Balanta , meaning literally "those who resist", are an ethnic group found in Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Gambia. They are the largest ethnic group of Guinea-Bissau, representing more than one-quarter of the population...
) before the nation became a permanent Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
overseas territory. The number of Portuguese speakers was large during Portuguese rule
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
, although mestiços
Mulatto
Mulatto denotes a person with one white parent and one black parent, or more broadly, a person of mixed black and white ancestry. Contemporary usage of the term varies greatly, and the broader sense of the term makes its application rather subjective, as not all people of mixed white and black...
and most blacks speak a Portuguese Creole
Portuguese Creole
Portuguese creoles are creole languages which have been significantly influenced by Portuguese.- Origins :Portuguese overseas exploration in the 15th and 16th century's led to the establishment of a Portuguese Empire with trading posts, forts and colonies in the Americas, Asia and Africa...
called Guinea-Bissau Creole, which is a more widely spoken lingua franca
Lingua franca
A lingua franca is a language systematically used to make communication possible between people not sharing a mother tongue, in particular when it is a third language, distinct from both mother tongues.-Characteristics:"Lingua franca" is a functionally defined term, independent of the linguistic...
of the nation. After independence, when most Portuguese left, Portuguese speakers were reduced to less than 10% because of civil war that affected education, although it remained the official language of the country.
Language Planning
When the CPLP was founded in 1996, it helped Guinea-Bissau in education aside from peace talks there. Many Portuguese, BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian, and PALOP (mostly Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
n) teachers entered to increase Portuguese fluency among blacks. In 2005, in order to increase Portuguese fluency, there was an agreement between Guinean officials and Instituto Camões
Instituto Camões
The Instituto Camões is an institution created in 1992 for the world-wide promotion of the Portuguese language and culture...
, which already had a center in Bissau
Bissau
Bissau is the capital city of Guinea-Bissau. The city's borders are conterminous with the Bissau Autonomous Sector. In 2007, the city had an estimated population of 407,424 according to the Instituto Nacional de Estatística e Censos...
, to open centers in other towns of the country: Canchungo
Canchungo
Canchungo is a town located in the western Cacheu Region of Guinea-Bissau formerly known as Vila Teixeira Pinto after Major Teixeira Pinto, the colonial officer that pacified the area.Population 6,434 ....
, Ongoré, Mansoa
Mansôa
Mansôa is a town located in the Oio Region of Guinea-Bissau. Population 7,376 .-References:...
, Bafatá
Bafatá
Bafatá is a town in central Guinea-Bissau, known as the birthplace of Amílcar Cabral. The town has a population of 22,501 .It lies in an area known for its wildlife, including monkeys. Bafatá’s main industry is brickmaking. It is the capital of Bafatá Region as well as the seat of the Roman...
, Gabú
Gabú
Gabú is the largest town in eastern Guinea-Bissau and capital of the Gabú Region. Population 14,336 .The town is known for its Fula population and dominant Muslim religion. It was originally the centre of the Kaabu empire until the Fouta Djallon came to dominate it in the nineteenth century. Gabú...
, Buba
Buba
Buba is the largest city in southern Guinea-Bissau, lying on the Rio Grande de Buba, near the Contanhez National Park. Population 6,815 .It is also a seaport and is the capital of the Quinara Region...
, Catió
Catió
Catió is a city in south eastern Guinea-Bissau. It is the capital of Tombali Region.Population 9,217 .Catio, along with Canjadude and other camps were besieged by the Portuguese in 1973....
, Bolama
Bolama
Bolama is the closest of the Bijagós Islands to the mainland of Guinea-Bissau, and is also the name of the island's main town, the capital of the Bolama Region. Population 10,014 ....
, Bubaque
Bubaque
Bubaque is one of the Bijagós Islands in Guinea-Bissau, and is also the name of its main town. Population 9,244 . The island is known for its wildlife and is heavily forested. It is linked by ferry to Bissau and has an airstrip.-External links:...
, and Quinhamel
Quinhámel
Quinhámel is a city in Guinea-Bissau. It is the capital of Biombo Region. Population 2,887 .-References:...
. The percentage of Portuguese speakers increased to 14%.