The
Portuguese
Documents
Language 
Introduction
How could language constitute as a challenge when reading records created in Portugal, Brazil, and other Portuguese native-speaking countries? Most researchers might assume that fluency in speaking or reading Portuguese would be enough to interpret records of genealogical value. However, as people start reading older records, they quickly find out that the records are not written in a pure standard form of Portuguese, but in a variety of Portuguese influenced by local dialects and other languages, particularly by Latin, which was the main literary language used by Catholic priests.
Because rules regulating the spelling and grammar of Portuguese did not become more available and widespread until approximately the 19th century and because most people write the way they speak, spelling will prove a real challenge when reading old Portuguese documents. Adding to this challenge are factors such as the influence of Latin on the spelling of Portuguese words, and the several variations of Portuguese and the differences among them, such as differences in pronunciation resulting in different spellings. For example, the interchangeable use of /i/ and /y/, and /s/ and /z/:
Portuguese Around the World
Portuguese is the official language of at least seven different countries worldwide. It is the national language of Brazil, Portugal, Mozambique, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Angola, and Guinea-Bissau, while sharing a co-official title in many other countries. Because of the distance between each region, variations of the language occurred and still occur today.
The Effect of Language Diversity on Records
Brazil 1875
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Transcription
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Ventura e Sabina Aos seis de |
1. |
Ventura and Sabina, On the sixth of |
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Novembro de mil oitocentos setenta e cinco, na |
2. |
November of 1875, in the |
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Cathedral ante mim, as cinco horas e meia da |
3. |
Cathedral before me, at five-thirty of the |
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tarde se receberam em matrimonio por pala- |
4. |
afternoon they were received in marriage by wo- |
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-vras de presente Ventura Ferreira dos Santos, e |
5. |
-rds of the present Ventura Ferreira dos Santos, and |
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Sabina Maria da Roza, elle viuvo por falleci- |
6. |
Sabina Maria da Roza, he (being) widowed by the dea- |
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-mento de Antonia Maria da Conceição; e ella |
7. |
-th of Antonia Maria da Conceição; and she |
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filha natural de Josepha Maria da Concei- |
8. |
(being) a natural daughter of Josepha Maria da Concei- |
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-ção E logo receberam as bençaos nupciaes na |
9. |
-ção. And they immediately received wedding blessings in the |
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forma do Ritual Romano, sendo de tudo testemu- |
10. |
form of the Roman Ritual, being witness- |
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-nhas Raymundo Ferreira Chaves, e Manoel Ri- |
11. |
-es Raymundo Ferreira Chaves, and Manuel Ri- |
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-beiro da Roza. Onubente é natural d’este Cura- |
12. |
-beiro da Roza. The betrothed [man] is native to this parso- |
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-to, e a nubente de Russas, d’onde veio de terna |
13. |
-nage, and the betrothed [woman] (is) from Russas, where she came of tender |
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idade para este, onde são moradores. Para cons- |
14. |
age to this, where they are inhabitants. To con- |
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tar se fez este assento, em que eu assino |
15. |
-sult they did this matter, in which I sign |
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Lomrenço da Costa Igniar |
16. |
Lomrenço da Costa Igniar |
Cabo Verde 1874
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Transcription
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Aos dezoito de Abril de mil oito cento settenta |
1. |
On the eighteenth of eighteen seventy- |
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equatro na Capella da Misericordia que |
2. |
-four in the Church of Mercy that |
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ao presente esta servindo de Egreja Parochial |
3. |
to the present is serving the Parochial Church |
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perante mim comparecendo Donato josé |
4. |
appeared before me Donato José |
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de Pina e Marcellina da Veija amanceba- |
5. |
de Pina and Marcellina da Veija [who are] lo- |
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dos, e por ordem de sua Excellencia Reverendissi- |
6. |
-vers, and by order of his Excellency Most Reve- |
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ma o Senhor Bispo desta diocese sem |
7. |
-rend Lord Bishop of this diocese without |
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mais formalidades, depois de os ouvir de con- |
8. |
more formalities, after hearing them in confes- |
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-fição receberem a sagrada comunhão, as recibi |
9. |
-sion they received the sacred communion, I received them |
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em matrimonio em facie ecclesiae, conforme |
10. |
in marriage in front of the Church, according [to the manner] |
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determina o sagrado Concilio de Trento, Elle |
11. |
determined the sacred Council of Trent, He [being a] |
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filho legitimo de Manoel Soccorro e Maria |
12. |
legitimate son of Manoel Soccorro and Maria |
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de Pina naturaes desta ilha, ella filha |
13. |
de Pina natives of this island, she [being a] daughter |
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natural de Maria da Boa Vista, natural |
14. |
natural of Maria da Boa Vista, native |
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da ilha da Boa Vista, Epara constar |
15. |
of the island of Boa Vista, & to be official |
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mandei faser este termo que assjno com |
16. |
I ordered to be done this end which I sign with |
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as testemunhas presentes Higgino josé Barbados |
17. |
the witnesses present Higino José Barbados |
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e José Joaquim Vieira Vas concellos |
18. |
and José Joaquim Vieira Vasconcellos |
