* Latin: The foundation of Portuguese, like all Romance languages, lies in Vulgar Latin, the language spoken by the common people in the Roman Empire, distinct from the formal, literary Latin.
* Galician: After the Roman Empire's decline, Vulgar Latin evolved into various regional dialects. In northwestern Iberia, this dialect became known as Galician.
* Portuguese: Around the 13th century, the kingdom of Portugal emerged and its own dialect of Galician started to diverge, eventually becoming Portuguese.
Key Factors in Portuguese's Development:
* Geographic Isolation: Portugal's location on the Iberian Peninsula's western edge led to a degree of isolation from other Romance languages, allowing its dialect to develop more independently.
* Contact with other Languages: While Portuguese primarily developed from Galician, it also absorbed influences from Arabic (due to Moorish rule), French (through cultural contact), and African languages (due to colonialism).
* Literary Development: The establishment of a Portuguese literary tradition in the 13th and 14th centuries, particularly with the works of Luís de Camões, helped solidify the language and its distinct identity.
Evolution and Spread:
* Portuguese continued to evolve after its initial development, with regional variations emerging.
* During the Age of Exploration, Portuguese became a major language of trade and diplomacy, spreading across the globe, particularly in Brazil, Africa, and Asia.
Modern Portuguese:
* Today, Portuguese is spoken by over 250 million people worldwide, primarily in Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde.
* While Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese share a common root, they have diverged significantly in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.
In summary, Portuguese is a Romance language that evolved from Galician, influenced by other languages and shaped by historical factors. It is a language with a rich history and a vibrant global presence.