Full Description
A student-friendly textbook on Portuguese linguistics for today's diverse classrooms
Introduction to Portuguese Linguistics and Variation offers students a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the structure and variation of Portuguese as spoken across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Designed for undergraduate and introductory graduate students, this textbook bridges traditional linguistic topics with inclusive approaches to variation, discourse and language identity.
Across ten modular chapters, readers are guided through the history of the Portuguese language, sound patterns, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and regional variation. Each chapter includes clearly defined terms, comprehension checks, and thought-provoking discussion questions designed to support classroom instruction and independent study.
Covers all core areas of Portuguese linguistics, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, semantics, and pragmatics
Emphasizes dialectal variation, Creole languages, and linguistic inclusivity across the Lusophone world
Features updated discussion of emerging trends in sociolinguistics and language policy
Includes references to further readings and resources for deeper exploration
Written by a leading educator with extensive experience in Portuguese language teaching and research, Introduction to Portuguese Linguistics and Variation is ideal for courses in Portuguese, Luso-Brazilian studies, and general linguistics, as well as for language teachers working with Portuguese-speaking communities.
Contents
Acknowledgments viii
AI Assistance Disclosure Statement ix
1 Language: Essential Terminology 1
2 History of the Portuguese Language 14
3 Portuguese in the World 29
4 Portuguese Phonetics: Building Blocks of Sounds 49
5 Phonology: Systemic Organization of Sounds 64
6 Morphology: The Structure of Words 79
7 Syntax: The Structure of the Sentence 122
8 Semantics and Pragmatics 147
9 Portuguese Dialectal Variation 169
10 Research Frontiers in Portuguese Linguistics and Variation 194
Glossary 203
Index 208
