ANU hosts Portuguese language celebration
For the first time this year, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) celebrated 5 May as the International Day of the Portuguese Language and Culture.
Mr. Filipe Mesquita, Cultural Attaché from the Embassy of Timor-Leste speaking at the event.
The day was established in 2009, and is dedicated to celebrating the common linguistic and cultural ties which unite the eight countries that belong to the CPLP.
Members of Canberra’s Portuguese community gathered on campus at the Allan Barton Forum. Guests included ANU staff and staff from embassies in Canberra, including special guests:
- Ambassador for Timor-Leste H.E Mr Abel Guterres
- Ambassador for Brazil H.E Mr. Rubem Corrêa Barbosa
- H.E Mr Paulo Cunha-Alves — Ambassador for Portugal
The proceedings were opened by Professor Catherine Travis, Head of the School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics (SLLL).
Now offered at ANU, Portuguese is the third most widely spoken European language, after English and Spanish, with some 240 million users worldwide. More people around the world speak Portuguese as their native language than French, German, Italian or Japanese.
Professor Catherine Travis welcomes guests.
Portuguese is now recognized as a working language by European Union, the Mercosur, the African Union, the Organization of Ibero-American States, and the Organization of American States, among other world organizations.
Created in 1996, CPLP represents the community of nations where Portuguese if the official language, an estimated 240 million people, including Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe and East Timor.
Listen to Prof Carlos Pio's interview for SBS Australia Radio's Portuguese hour where he discusses the event and invites the Portuguese-speaking community in Australia to take part in SLLL's effort in honouring this day.