Portugisiska

Portugisiska, or Portuguese, is a Romance language that originated in the western Iberian Peninsula. It belongs to the Western branch of the Romance languages within the Ibero-Romance group and developed from Latin spoken by Roman-era settlers, evolving through regional varieties that eventually formed a standard form.

It is spoken by communities across the world and has official status in Portugal, Brazil, Mozambique, Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor, and Macau. It is also widely used in diaspora communities in Europe, North America, and beyond. The two principal standard varieties are European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese, with numerous regional dialects and varieties elsewhere in Africa and Asia.

History and development: Portuguese emerged as a distinct language by the 12th century amid the formation of the Kingdom of Portugal. Its expansion during the Age of Exploration brought it to Brazil, parts of Africa, and Asia, where it interacted with local languages and developed new dialects. The Orthographic Agreement of 1990 aimed to harmonize spelling across Portuguese-speaking countries; implementation has proceeded at varying rates.

Features: Portuguese uses the Latin alphabet with diacritics, and nasal vowels are a hallmark of the phonology. The language has a rich system of verb conjugation with indicative, subjunctive, and imperative moods. Pronoun usage and clitic placement vary between European and Brazilian Portuguese. The language is noted for its rhythmic phonology and a wide range of regional pronunciations.