Purpose
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to recognise Brazilian cultural and regional language variation respectfully.
Lesson Explanation
Brazilian Portuguese varies by region in accent and vocabulary. mandioca, aipim, and macaxeira can name the same cassava root in different regions. These are legitimate regional words, not mistakes.
The pronouns você and tu also vary. In much of Brazil, você is dominant; some regions use tu, sometimes with third-person verbs in everyday speech.
Practice Questions
1. Name one word for cassava.
View Answer
mandioca, aipim, or macaxeira.
2. Are these regional words mistakes?
View Answer
No, they are legitimate regional variation.
3. Which pronoun is dominant in much of Brazil?
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você.4. Which alternative pronoun is used in some regions?
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tu.5. Can tu occur with third-person verbs in everyday regional speech?
View Answer
Yes.
6. What varies by region besides vocabulary?
View Answer
Accent and pronoun usage.
7. What is cassava called in one region?
View Answer
aipim, for example.
8. Why should learners recognise variation?
View Answer
To understand real speakers respectfully.
9. Is there only one valid Brazilian pronunciation?
View Answer
No.
10. What does mandioca refer to?
View Answer
Cassava root.
11. Does você take third-person forms in this course?
View Answer
Yes.
12. What attitude should you take to regional varieties?
View Answer
Curiosity and respect.