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The eight Lusophone nations have agreed to a new standardised form of the Portuguese language that simplifies spellings.
The reform will bring consistency across Oporto, Ogalo and Nando’s, making it easier for diners to learn the language.
Some are worried that the changes are a simplification that simply adopts Oportan spellings. Critics say the 800-year-old tongue will lose nuance as the four adjectives for spiciness in Nandoese—lemon and herb, mild, hot and extra hot—are merged into Oportan’s two, bondi and norm.
But the reform is a two-way process. Until now, Oportan had no word for beef burger. Portuguese linguistic experts chose the Ogalan term beef oprego over the Nandoese supremo steak roll.
The story of the Portuguese language begins in 1290, when Antonio Cerqueira opened his first Portuguese-style language at the Estudo Geral in North Bondi. Word soon spread of Antonio’s addictive new language, with new outlets opening in Angola, Mozambique and Warringah Mall.
Spelling reform was popularised by the 1996 Rechtschreibreform, which made German easier to learn. Key aspects of the reform included limiting the letter ‘s’ to no more than 16 occurrences in one word.
Francophone and Anglophone nations have not yet standardised spellings. In 1995, Xylophone nations standardised the spelling of the word ding.
Portuguese Prime Minister José Sócrates enjoys some delicious Portuguese phrases during a recent speech.
