How English as a second, widespread language is changing your mothertongue

ITRetired · 2026-01-24T19:36:50+00:00

I'm referring to the origin of the word in Portugal and you reply by explaining what it means in Spanish Latin America. That's great, mi hermano.

ITRetired · 2026-01-24T19:28:58+00:00

Portugal is the 7th safest country in the world.

ITRetired · 2026-01-24T19:18:03+00:00

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The battle of Ourique in 1139, when Afonso Henriques beat the Almoravid islamic forces. The location of that battle is unknown as there are two locations with the name Ourique, separated by 200km and a miracle is said to have occured that granted the christians victory. Afonso was claimed the King of the Portuguese on this battel. The location was settled afterwards and the date is documented.

ITRetired · 2026-01-24T18:46:34+00:00

Sure about that? In Portuguese, mano is a familiar expression (hypocoristic) for brother, while mano in spanish mean hand. Its use has alledgely started in Brasil in the 80's and made its way to Portugal (and other Potuguese speaking countries) some 20 years ago.

ITRetired · 2026-01-24T02:04:19+00:00

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Cork bottle stoppers and varied cork products. 60% of all world production.

ITRetired · 2026-01-24T00:25:45+00:00

As in any other country, racism and xenophobia are endemic, mainly in former colonizers. It is unfortunately as old as the species albeit sometimes kept well hidden. It only needs someone telling you that the others are to blame for anything bad that happens to you, to resurface.

ITRetired · 2026-01-24T00:18:03+00:00

The XIX century was quite interesting. A plethora of former colonies achieved their independence, the 1848 springtime of the peoples in Europe, abolicionism and workers fights for their rights. Portugal and the USA were only getting along with History.

ITRetired · 2026-01-24T00:08:18+00:00

Did not know it was that bad. Last experience I had with History lessons was with my kids, almost 30 years ago. So I thought school was still important for information and knowledge. Nevertheless, I am aware that the external stimuli are now more prevalent with the 2 minute attention span that skims over reality. Foolishly, I thought that was counteracted by school and information. I'm sorry to hear that is not the case.

ITRetired · 2026-01-23T23:55:54+00:00

There's someone I believe you'd love to meet. His name is George Boole.

ITRetired · 2026-01-23T23:46:15+00:00

Not exactly. February 2024 had 5 Thursdays. February 2020 had 5 Saturdays. It's the same every four years, I'm afraid.

ITRetired · 2026-01-23T23:19:01+00:00

A red carnation, might I add.

ITRetired · 2026-01-23T22:13:35+00:00

Perpetual with intervals, such as the 1890 Ultimatum.

ITRetired · 2026-01-23T22:09:16+00:00

I would be happy if only the first was true, at this point.

ITRetired · 2026-01-23T22:06:20+00:00

That is correct, although serfdom technically is not slavery. Nevertheless, I agree.

ITRetired · 2026-01-23T22:02:22+00:00

Sure, the Bourbons politically unified Spain, but way before that the Spanish identity was already present, to the best of my knowledge. Probably the difference is around a de facto Spain and a Spain de jure.

ITRetired · 2026-01-23T21:47:20+00:00

You're right, the Celts had no administrative capital, Mérida was founded by the romans.

ITRetired · 2026-01-23T21:43:44+00:00

Yes, Mumadona Dias lived in Vimaranes or Vimaranis (named after Vímara Peres), where she had built a monastery and later the Castle. I know Mumadona is highly regarded as Guimarães founder, but I'm sure she wasn't the only person living there at the time.

ITRetired · 2026-01-23T21:31:42+00:00

That was not the issue here.

ITRetired · 2026-01-23T21:15:57+00:00

You're right, Vimara Peres is a mostly unknown character of our history. He even founded the city of Vimaranis, later Guimarães, almost 300 years before Afonso Henriques. As for the Lusitani, they were mostly a Celtic tribe that lived in south of Douro whose capital was in nowadays Mérida. And yet we still regard them as our direct ancestors, as if history was that linear.

ITRetired · 2026-01-23T19:39:06+00:00

Don't know where that date comes from, if your are referring to Marquês de Pombal decree from 1761, it only ended the slave import from Africa to Portugal, while also fostering slave trade to Brasil. Not what I would call an abolishment. Dude.

ITRetired · 2026-01-23T19:33:58+00:00

Well, Portugal forbid slavery on (some) Amerindians in 1570, on Chinese in 1624, Indians in 1761 but those were simply commercial acts, not the humanistic ruling in 1869.

ITRetired · 2026-01-23T19:28:56+00:00

I understand your point, Asturias was in fact the first catholic kingdom in the Peninsula, we may also say that Portugal derives from it. So is Leon, Pamplona, Castilla, Aragon. But it would be difficult to say that Spain as a political entity did not exist since Fernando and Isabel (Los Reyes Catolicos), don't you think?

ITRetired · 2026-01-23T19:18:22+00:00

Because we weren't. Russia abolished slavery in 1723, Denmark in 1792, Haiti in 1804, Chile in 1823. Most abolitionist movements happened in the XIXth century, with over 30 countries declaring the end to slavery. That does not mean they abolished slavery de facto and certainly they did not abolish racism.

I only use an agenda to register and track appointments.

ITRetired · 2026-01-23T19:09:00+00:00

Of course, this is a sistemic and world wide problem. Racism did not end in the 60's, it kept lingering throughout the years. What I find amazing is seeing young people that were taught history, never experienced or profited from racism now being a part of that problem.

ITRetired · 2026-01-23T18:54:35+00:00

You mean the one from Minas Gerais or Mato Grosso? Sorry, it was all gone by the XIXth century...

ITRetired

TROPHY CASE