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Spain versus Portugal. Can we get along?
Before going to Portugal for New Year's, we were advised that we shouldn't even try to speak Spanish there. If you don't speak Portuguese, stick with English because the Portuguese don't like using Spanish, even if they speak it.
I didn't realize how deep is their resentment toward the Spanish until I saw this sign spray-painted on a building in Alfama, Lisbon.
I feel for you, Portugal. In the early nineties, there were similar signs in Prague: "Shut up, or stay in Germany."
Filed under: History, Europe, Portugal, Spain, Hotels and Accommodations
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jose Feb 9th 2008 10:04AM
That latinos in the USA "refuse" to learn English is patently untrue, but it keeps on being repeated, like a myth that will not die. Statistics prove once and again that immigrant Latinos strive hard to learn English, even to the point of forgoing Spanish for their children, and by second generation the language switch is a certainty. For a survey on the topic, see this link: http://pewhispanic.org/reports/report.php?ReportID=82
Joao Almeida Feb 26th 2008 7:59PM
What happens is simple: very often Portugal is confused as a part of spanish by northern european and american tourists.
Joao Almeida Feb 26th 2008 8:04PM
...
Spain
(...) as a part of Spain (...)
Damn! I should read things before I click the button.
PS - You can speak spanish in Portugal, as long as you are aware of some of the differences between the two languages, and saying "obrigado" instead of "gracias" probably is the most basic and important of them in a simple conversation.
Ramon Apr 8th 2008 7:16PM
I think portuguese speaking people has indentity problem because brazil is bordered with spanishs peaking countries and portugal is bordered by spain that is why most people think portugal and brazil are spanish speaking country too.
even here in the philippines, many filipinos speaks spanish but we speak english in public and spanish at home for spanish lineage only of course because we were colonized by Spain.
John Jan 10th 2008 1:51PM
So I suppose that Portugal is not interested in hosting tourists from Latin America?
I hear that they also have an inferiority complex vs Brazil since the old colony is now the most important Portuguese speaking country in the world. Almost all books, movies, and art in that language come from Brazil.
For a while Philip II of Spain was also king of Portugal. Too bad that afer he died Portugal regained its independence.
John Jan 10th 2008 1:55PM
So I suppose that Portugal is not interested in hosting tourists from Latin America?
I hear that they also have an inferiority complex vs Brazil since the old colony is now the most important Portuguese speaking country in the world. Almost all books, movies, and art in that language come from Brazil.
For a while Philip II of Spain was also king of Portugal. Too bad that afer he died Portugal regained its independence.
Marianna Jan 10th 2008 4:06PM
Brazil is not the only country other than Portugal to speak Portuguese......in fact the majority of Latin American countries list Portuguese as their main language.
The point of the sign, and the sentiment behind it, is respect.
These type of disputes goes back centuries and are not easily explained as "this way" or "that way".....
Although, having lived in Europe for several years I can say that many Americans are just as arrogant as the Spanish by expecting other countries to cater to their language, etc.
How about tourists start catering to the ways of the country they visit by at least attempting to communicate in the host countries language. After all the Spanish require the same courtesy of the Portuguese when they travel to Spain.
DriverG Jan 10th 2008 4:42PM
"the majority of Latin American countries list Portuguese as their main language"
Hardly.
Portuguese has "official" language status in the Mercosur countries, but is only the "main language" - or even spoken - in Brazil. You'll have to go to Africa, Macau or Timor to find other places where it is close to being the main language.