Why Be Born in Brazil and Portuguese Speaking Countries Do Not Define Someone as a Native speaker of Portuguese?

Being born in Brazil or any Portuguese-speaking country does not automatically define someone as a native speaker of Portuguese. A "native speaker" is generally someone who learns a language as their first language, in the context of growing up in an environment where that language is used daily for communication. In Brazil, despite Portuguese being the official language and widely spoken throughout the country, many people grow up speaking other languages as their mother tongues due to the diverse linguistic and cultural influences within the country. These influences often stem from historical immigration patterns, indigenous communities, and regional cultural practices that have preserved local languages for generations. (Click the link https://blog.123milhas.com/conheca-quatro-cidades-brasileiras-em-que-se-fala-outro-idioma/ to understand language diversity in Brazil).

To understand this, let's explore specific examples of regions and communities in Brazil where different languages are spoken as a mother tongue. These examples show that being born in Brazil or a Portuguese-speaking country doesn't necessarily make one a native speaker of Portuguese.

1. Santa Maria de Jetibá - Pomerode Language Speakers

Santa Maria de Jetibá, a city located in the state of Espírito Santo in the Southeast region of Brazil, is home to a significant community of people who speak a dialect of the Pomeranian language known as "Pomerode." This language is of Germanic origin, brought to Brazil by immigrants from the region of Pomerania (which is now part of modern-day Poland and Germany) in the 19th century.

In Santa Maria de Jetibá, many descendants of these immigrants continue to speak Pomerode as their mother tongue, especially in more rural areas. These individuals may not speak Portuguese as their first language, and their first language is Pomerode, which they use in everyday interactions within their community. Even though they are Brazilian citizens, Portuguese is typically learned as a second language in formal education or through interactions with the wider society.

This phenomenon highlights how the linguistic landscape in Brazil is shaped by the persistence of minority languages that coexist with the national language, Portuguese. It also shows how someone's first language, in this case, Pomerode, can be distinct from the official national language of Brazil.

2. Bento Gonçalves - Thalian Language Speakers

Bento Gonçalves, a city located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in the Southeast region of Brazil, is another example of a place where the language spoken by many residents is not Portuguese. The Thalian language (also called "Talian") is a variety of Venetian dialects spoken by descendants of Italian immigrants, primarily from the Veneto region in Italy.

Many people in Bento Gonçalves grow up speaking Talian as their first language, particularly in areas with high concentrations of Italian descendants. Portuguese, while spoken as the national language of Brazil, is typically learned later in life and may not be spoken fluently by those whose families still use Talian in daily life. This again demonstrates how the linguistic identity of an individual can be shaped by their family's heritage and community, and not necessarily by the official language of the country they live in.

3. Nova Petrópolis - Hunsrückisch Language Speakers

Nova Petrópolis, a city also located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in the Southeast region of Brazil, is home to a significant population of speakers of Hunsrückisch, a dialect of the German language. Hunsrückisch was brought to Brazil by German immigrants from the Hunsrück region of Germany, and it is still spoken by many residents of Nova Petrópolis.

In this community, Hunsrückisch is often the language spoken at home, during family gatherings, and in local cultural activities. While Portuguese is the national language, it may not be the first language for many individuals in these communities, particularly older generations or those who live in more rural areas where the German dialects are more preserved.

Once again, this example shows that being born in Brazil and living in a Portuguese-speaking country does not necessarily make someone a native speaker of Portuguese, especially when they grow up in a community where another language, like Hunsrückisch, is spoken as the first language.

4. Indigenous Tribes in Brazil and the Absence of Portuguese as a First Language

Brazil is home to a large number of indigenous communities, each with their own languages. Indigenous people, particularly those who live in remote regions of the Amazon and other parts of Brazil, may not speak Portuguese at all, or if they do, it might not be their first language. For example, tribes such as the Yanomami, Kayapo, and Guarani speak their indigenous languages as their primary mode of communication.

These languages are completely distinct from Portuguese, and the individuals in these communities typically grow up speaking their native languages as their mother tongue. In such cases, being born in Brazil does not automatically mean that someone speaks Portuguese fluently or natively. Instead, their native tongue is the language of their indigenous culture, with Portuguese often being learned later, sometimes as a second language through formal education or interaction with outsiders.

5. Brazilians Who Speak English as a Mother Tongue

Interestingly, Brazil also has a small population of Brazilians who speak English as their mother tongue. While this is not the norm, there are some cases of families where English is the first language spoken at home, particularly among expatriates or families with strong international ties.

One example is the community of Brazilians who have lived abroad for extended periods, particularly in English-speaking countries, and have returned to Brazil but continue to speak English at home. Another example is the increasing number of bilingual Brazilian families, where one parent is a native speaker of English (from countries like the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom) and the other is Brazilian. In such cases, children might grow up speaking English as their first language, and Portuguese may be learned later.

These English-speaking communities, though small, exist in cities with a high concentration of international businesses and expatriates, such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasília. While Portuguese is the national language, these individuals might identify more with English-speaking cultures and communities, and English might be their primary mode of communication.

Conclusion: Identity and Language in Brazil

In Brazil, language is not simply a matter of being born in a particular country. The diversity of languages spoken in Brazil is vast, and a person's mother tongue is influenced by many factors, including ethnic background, family heritage, and regional community. As seen in the examples of Pomerode, Talian, Hunsrückisch, indigenous languages, and English-speaking communities, there are many people in Brazil whose native language is not Portuguese, even though they are born in a Portuguese-speaking country.

This reflects the complexity of linguistic identity in Brazil, where cultural and historical influences have shaped the languages spoken by different populations. Being born in Brazil does not automatically make someone a native speaker of Portuguese, especially in communities where other languages are still spoken as a first language and Portuguese is learned as a second language later in life. Therefore, identifying as a native speaker of Portuguese requires more than just being born in a Portuguese-speaking country—it depends on the language spoken in the home and community from the earliest stages of life.

Bibliographic References 

Schwarcz, Lilia Moritz. The Spectacle of the Races: Scientists, Institutions, and the Race Question in Brazil, 1870-1930. Hill and Wang, 1999.

This book examines Brazilian identity and diversity, which could relate to the question of why one is born in Brazil and how identity transcends language.

Freyre, Gilberto. The Masters and the Slaves (Casa-Grande & Senzala). Translated by Samuel Putnam, University of California Press, 1986.

A foundational text on Brazilian culture and history, it explores the formation of Brazilian society, offering insights into why Brazil's cultural context is unique.

Holston, James. The Modernist City: An Anthropological Critique of Brasília. University of Chicago Press, 1989.

This work delves into Brazilian modernity and identity, which might connect to existential questions about being born in Brazil.

Castro, Ruy. Chega de Saudade: A History of Bossa Nova. Companhia das Letras, 1990.

While focused on music, it reflects on Brazilian cultural identity, potentially tying into the "why be born" theme.

Pennycook, Alastair. The Cultural Politics of English as an International Language. Routledge, 1994.

This book discusses language and identity globally, including how speaking a language like Portuguese doesn't inherently define nativeness, applicable to Portuguese-speaking countries.

Almeida, Maria Luiza Soares de. O que são línguas minoritárias? Tesouro Linguístico, 2021. Available at: https://wp.ufpel.edu.br/tesouro-linguistico/2021/02/17/o-que-sao-linguas-minoritarias/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

Ferreira, Aderlande Pereira. O panorama lingüístico brasileiro: a coexistência de línguas minoritárias com o português. 2009. Available at: https://www.revistas.usp.br/flp/article/download/59772/62881?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Pinheiro, Lívia Melina; Finardi, Kyria Rebeca; Porcino, Maria Carolina. Políticas linguísticas e ensino de línguas minoritárias e majoritárias no Brasil: o caso do pomerano e do inglês como línguas estrangeiras. 2019. Available at: https://blog.ufes.br/kyriafinardi/files/2019/07/Pinheiro-Finardi-Porcino-2019.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

British Council. Demandas de Aprendizagem de Inglês no Brasil. 2014. Available at: https://www.britishcouncil.org.br/sites/default/files/demandas_de_aprendizagempesquisacompleta.pdf?trk=public_post_comment-text&utm_source=chatgpt.com