Unity and Respect for the Rules of the Portuguese Language in Official Documents

 I would like to highlight that the Portuguese language is unique, and all countries that use it – namely Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, and others – must respect the officially established writing standards, especially in the context of official documents. By adopting Portuguese as the official language, these countries commit to preserving the precepts of the standard language, ensuring clarity and effectiveness in institutional communication.

It is important to emphasize that while the natural variations of the language enrich our language, the main difference lies particularly in the treatment of Portuguese in Brazil. Unlike other former colonial countries, Brazil must rigorously adhere to the official writing rules. This uniformity is essential to ensure the understanding and legal security of documents and administrative processes.

Recently, it has been noted that platforms like Google and other translation services have started using expressions like “Portuguese from Portugal” and “Brazilian Portuguese.” However, it is crucial to stress that "Brazilian Portuguese" does not exist as a distinct variant, as Brazil, throughout its history, has adapted the Portuguese language to its cultural and regional characteristics. Portuguese is unique, and its variations are natural and reflect the specific contexts of each country. However, this adaptation should not be confused with the creation of a new language, which causes confusion and distorts the linguistic reality. Therefore, it is necessary to reflect on how this issue is being treated in the media and digital platforms to ensure that misconceptions do not perpetuate, potentially undermining the unity of the Portuguese language.

In my professional activity, I have found that the insistence on differentiating expressions from diverse contexts can lead to misinterpretations and unnecessary treatment of lexical variations. These variations, which reflect the cultural and historical diversity of our language, should be valued as long as they are used in accordance with the rules that govern formal writing.

Some practical examples that illustrate the need to respect the norms are:

• The use of "Escrevente Autorizada" instead of "Escrivão," both valid expressions representing distinct contexts and lexical traditions, but that should be used in a way that respects the norm;
• The spelling "Registro" instead of "Registo," a variation that results from different orthographic practices but requires a consistent application of the established writing rules;
• The choice between "Vérifier" and "Confirm," which can vary according to stylistic preference, without compromising communicational clarity, as long as official writing standards are strictly followed.

Proposals:

1. Promote the recognition that Portuguese is a single language, valuing the natural variations while emphasizing that all Portuguese-speaking countries, particularly Brazil, due to its colonial background, must respect the writing norms that ensure the clarity and effectiveness of official documents.
2. Adapt official documents in a way that integrates linguistic variations coherently, ensuring strict adherence to writing standards.
3. Develop guidelines that reinforce respect for the Portuguese language rules in all its manifestations, preserving the unity of the language and ensuring legal and communicational security in legal and administrative contexts.

Thank you for your attention to this reflection, which aims to strengthen the identity, cohesion, and respect for the rules of the Portuguese language.

SAISI