Changes to the Portuguese Language - Life Will Indeed Be Different in 2009!

In 2009 the long-discussed reform of the Portuguese Language will be implemented (or is supposed to be). The goal is to standardize the spelling and bring uniformity of language among the different Portuguese speaking countries.

Of course there is resistance to such changes, especially from Portugal because the changes bring the language closer to Brazilian Portuguese. I guess this is like trying to get England to adopt American spelling.

There will also be  changes to Brazilian Portuguese, as many accents are not necessary anymore. I'd say this is good news to my students: No more fighting with your keyboard to find the Brazilian accents :)

For example:

• no more trema: conseqüência now will be spelled consequência
• no more hifens (except when the first word ends in "r")
• no more accute accent in words ended in "eia" and "oia" (so now we will write heroica, jiboia, ideia)
• no more circumflex accent in verbal conjugation when you have double "e" and double "o" (so now we will write eu voo, eles leem, vocês veem)

You can read more about the reform here.

And I am thinking: oh boy, placing those accents will be a hard habit to break; I always enjoyed my ability to write perfect Portuguese with all its intricacies :p