48
Portuguese and Brazilian Language and Translation
UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI "L'ORIENTALE"
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
1. Theoretical Knowledge and Understanding
The student possesses a basic knowledge of the main phonological and morphological structures of the Portuguese language, along with communicative competence corresponding to levels B1/B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
2. Ability to Apply Knowledge
The student is able to identify and analyse phonetic-phonological, morphological and syntactic units of Portuguese, apply derivational patterns for word formation, comprehend and produce both spoken and written texts, and interact effectively in communicative contexts appropriate to a B1/B2 level.
3. Independent Judgement
The student demonstrates the ability to assess the accuracy and grammaticality of utterances through a reflective and linguistic approach; is capable of consulting the bibliographical sources recommended during the course and of beginning to use digital tools relevant to linguistic analysis, such as online dictionaries and electronic resources (e.g., Infopedia, Priberam). Furthermore, the student is able to adopt communicative strategies suited to their level of competence.
4. Communication Skills
The student is capable of engaging in spoken interactions in Portuguese in a manner appropriate to situations envisaged at a B1/B2 level of the CEFR.
5. Learning Skills
The student is able to critically reflect on their linguistic and metalinguistic competences, assessing their own progress in learning Portuguese and in understanding its phonological and morphological structures.
Course Prerequisites
A2 Level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
The A2 Level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) indicates a basic level, though not elementary: it is the second step on the scale of language proficiency, which ranges from A1 (absolute beginner) to C2 (advanced mastery).
At the A2 level, learners are expected to: understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of immediate relevance (such as basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, and employment); communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a direct exchange of information on familiar and everyday topics; and describe in simple terms aspects of their background, immediate environment, and matters of immediate need. At this level, a speaker is able to understand simple announcements in public places such as stations or supermarkets and follow a slow and clearly articulated conversation on familiar topics. They can read signs, menus, timetables, and brief personal messages, and understand simple written texts such as emails, messages, or postcards. They are able to write short and simple phrases, such as a postcard or a note to a friend, and fill in forms with personal details like name, address, or nationality. They can also interact orally by asking and answering questions on personal topics, such as where they live or what job they do, order food and drinks in a restaurant, or ask for directions clearly and understandably.
Teaching Methods
Teaching activities are mainly structured as lectures aimed at providing the theoretical foundations and methods of linguistic analysis. A significant portion of the course is dedicated to practical exercises, including text analysis and translation activities. Individual and group work is also planned, with the aim of deepening the course content, along with thematic seminars related to the program.
Assessment Methods
The exam is divided into three parts:
- A test on the Moodle platform (grammar, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension);
- An interview with the native-speaking language assistant (CEL);
- An oral exam with the course instructor.
Access to both the CEL interview and the oral exam with the instructor is conditional upon passing the written test.
The interview with the native speaker consists of a brief interaction in Portuguese (either the European or Brazilian variety), during which lexical competence, pronunciation, and interactional ability will be assessed according to the B1/B2 level of the CEFR.
The criteria used to assess the knowledge and skills acquired include:
- The level of understanding and depth of study of the required bibliography; completeness of content regarding the course topics;
- Consistency, phonetic and morphosyntactic accuracy, and fluency in the language;
- Appropriate use of metalinguistic terminology;
- Ability to apply acquired knowledge to different types of texts and to reason about linguistic phenomena in Portuguese and Italian from a contrastive perspective;
- Mastery of Portuguese (accuracy and fluency), and command of the reference texts.
The knowledge acquired in the syntax module will be assessed through a written test administered on the Moodle platform. This will include grammatical and syntactic exercises, sentence and short text analysis, as well as questions aimed at evaluating metalinguistic reflection from a contrastive (Portuguese–Italian) perspective.
The final grade will be the result of a reasoned average, based on the score obtained in the written test and further integrated with the CEL's evaluation during the language interview and the outcome of the oral exam with the instructor.
Texts
Recommended readings include:
Neves, M. (2019). Gramática para todos: o português na ponta da língua. Lisboa: Guerra & Paz.
Eliseu, André (2008). Sintaxe do português. Lisboa: Caminho.
Ribeiro Castagna, Vanessa & Martins Matos, Filipa Andreia (2025). Grammatica del portoghese europeo: morfologia, sintassi ed esercizi. Milano: Hoepli.
Ilari, Rodolfo (2013). O português no contexto das línguas românicas. In E. Raposo et ali. (Eds.), Gramática do português, Vol. I, Lisboa: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. Cap. 3.
Castilho, Ataliba T. de (2010). Gramática do português brasileiro. São Paulo: Contexto. Capp. 2, 4.
Mattos e Silva, Virgina (2004). “A formação histórica do português do Brasil”. In Gramática do português – Volume I, a cura di Eduardo Raposo at ali. Lisboa: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. Cap. 6.
Basso, Renato (2020). História do português brasileiro. São Paulo: Parábola Editorial. Cap. 1.
Also recommended:
FERREIRA, Teresa S. (2019). Gramática: português língua não materna: níveis A1 e A2. Porto: Porto Editora.
FERREIRA, Teresa S. (2019). Gramática: português língua não materna: níveis B1, B2 e C1. Porto: Porto Editora.
For reference:
Cunha, Celso Ferreira da; Cintra, Luís F. Lindley (2019). Nova gramática do português contemporâneo: texto atualizado de acordo com a nova ortografia. Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon.
Contents
The course is structured in two modules: the first is dedicated to Portuguese syntax, and the second to the history of Brazilian Portuguese.
The first module provides an in-depth study of the fundamental syntactic structures of the Portuguese language, with particular focus on the European variety, approached in contrastive perspective with Italian. After an introduction to the basic concepts of syntactic analysis, the structure of the simple sentence will be examined, paying attention to the organization of constituents and the identification of the main syntactic functions.
Special emphasis will be placed on the different types and forms of sentences: declarative, interrogative, exclamatory, and imperative; active and passive; affirmative and negative. The main strategies of emphasis and focus will also be analyzed through the study of word order, marked inversions, and other mechanisms for highlighting information.
The approach will be both theoretical and practical: each topic will be accompanied by authentic examples and exercises in syntactic analysis, including translation-oriented activities. The goal is to develop metalinguistic awareness useful both for text comprehension and for linguistic and cultural mediation.
The second module offers a historical overview of the evolution of Portuguese in Brazil, from its colonial origins to the contemporary era. It will examine the main factors that contributed to the development of Brazilian Portuguese as an autonomous variety, with particular attention to contact with Indigenous, African, and European languages. The course will explore linguistic changes linked to colonial language policies, the spread of education, migratory movements, and the construction of national identity. It will also address the main phonetic, lexical, and morphosyntactic features that distinguish Brazilian Portuguese from the European variety.
Course Language
Italian and Portuguese
More information
All additional resources, readings, and exercises will be available on the university’s e-learning platform. Students are expected to regularly consult the virtual classroom for updates and supplementary materials.
Although attendance at lectures and practical sessions is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended.