lexical differences between PT vs BR Portuguese

[gusl]

I have long said that the differences between PT and BR Portuguese are very analogous to UK vs US English. Sometimes I reconsider this. For example, if you're a Wikipedian, there's some annoying differences between the Portuguese spoken in Portugal and Brazil. I now have slightly more sympathy for those who proposed to separate the BR and PT Wikipedias, while still strongly disagreeing with it.

Some examples from different word categories.


PT, BR (English in parenthesis)

Epidemiology: BR is closer to English.

Cancro = Câncer (EN: cancer)
SIDA = AIDS (EN: AIDS)
Varicela = Catapora (EN: chickenpox)


Computers: BR has tendency to borrow from English, while PT has a greater tendency to reinvent or rederive them.

Rato = Mouse (EN: mouse)
Ecrã = Tela (EN: screen)
Ficheiro = Arquivo (EN: file)

(tangentially, a horrible term for HD is "Winchester"; thankfully seems to be disappearing)


Animals

pirilampo = vagalume (EN: firefly)


Musical instruments:, the most confusing area. PT is closer to English.

Guitarra = Violão, Viola (EN: guitar)
Guitarra Eléctrica = Guitarra (EN: electric guitar)
Viola = Viola (EN: viola)
Acordeão = Sanfona (EN: accordeon)
Sanfona = viola de roda (EN: hurdy-gurdy)
Harmónica = Gaita (EN: harmonica)
Gaita = Gaita de Foles (EN: bagpipe)


See more on Wikipedia.

Comments

[gwillen.livejournal.com]

Chickenpox is an interesting case, since the proper name of the virus in English is "Varicella". Chickenpox is a nickname.

[en-ki.livejournal.com]

So neither brand of Portuguese distinguishes between rat and mouse? (They're different genera.)

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

The distinction is too subtle for me.

Here's the taxonomy:

Muroidea
|-Muridae
||- Mus Musculus

"Rato" refers to Muridae
"Camundongo" (BR) refers to Mus Musculus

"Rat" (EN) refers to Muroidea

It seems there is no informal Portuguese word for "Muroidea".

(source: Wikipedia)

[gwillen.livejournal.com]

According to Wikipedia, "Rat" (EN) refers to Muridae->Rattus. Although it also says it can refer to Muroidea, and further that the terms "rat" and "mouse" are "not taxonomically specific". But I would definitely say that "rat" excludes mus musculus in common usage.

[en-ki.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it looks like there are various non-mus things that I've seen around and would call a mouse, but I haven't seen any of the non-rattus rats. We would definitely not call a gerbil or hamster a rat (except mockingly).

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

<< We would definitely not call a gerbil or hamster a rat >>

I would... but I'm like a little kid when it comes to naming animals.