Archive for March, 2008
Big Brother Brasil Madness Posted by Transparent Language on Mar 14, 2008
Many foreign TV shows are adapted in Brazil, everything from “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” to “Desperate Housewives.” But undoubtedly, the most popular foreign TV show adaptation has to be Big Brother. Each season, 14 contestants are chosen from across the country to live in a mansion in Rio de Janeiro. They can’t leave…
Baby Pumas Found in Sao Paulo Posted by Transparent Language on Mar 13, 2008
Three puma cubs were found in a sugar cane field less than 200 kilometers from the city of Sao Paulo. The species is known as “onça parda” in Portuguese. The one male and two females were abandoned by their mother, but are now under the care of feline experts at a veterinary clinic. The cubs…
The Origins of Capoeira Posted by Transparent Language on Mar 12, 2008
Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian dance based on martial arts, has become famous world-wide in recent years, in part due to the athletic workout it provides, in part due to the beauty of the dance, and in part due to its cultural implications. Capoeira developed at the beginning in the 16th century, when African slaves were brought…
Part II: Transitioning from Spanish to Portuguese Posted by Transparent Language on Mar 10, 2008
Today we’ll take a look at some more false cognates in Spanish and Portuguese, continuing with tips about how to transition from Spanish to Portuguese. SPANISH ENGLISH PORTUGUESEbarata sale promoçãocucaracha cockroach barata Examples:Hay una…
Brazilian City Spotlight: Walachai, Rio Grande do Sul Posted by Transparent Language on Mar 10, 2008
One of the most impressive things about Brazil is its regional diversity. In this series, we’ll take a look at just how different Brazil’s regions and even cities and towns can be. Walachai, pronounced “vala-hi” is a small town in the southernmost state of Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul. It’s located 100 kilometers from the…
Infamous Copacabana Nightclub Shutting Down Posted by Transparent Language on Mar 7, 2008
The Rio de Janeiro city government announced recently that it is shutting down one of the city’s most infamous nightclubs, “Help” in Copacabana, known for rampant prostitution and to a lesser degree, drug trafficking. Though the club used to be a hot spot for middle and upper class Cariocas in the 1980s, it gradually transformed…
Part I: Transitioning from Spanish to Portuguese Posted by Transparent Language on Mar 6, 2008
Learning Portuguese is considerably easier if you have a background in Spanish, since much of the grammar and even the vocabulary is similar. However, here are some of the pitfalls of transitioning from Spanish to Portuguese. SPANISH ENGLISH PORTUGUESE practicar practice treinar* Example: Tengo que practicar…