1990 orthographic reform

1990 orthographic reform
Name	1990 orthographic reform
Date	1990
Type	orthography reform
Status	implemented

1990 orthographic reform The 1990 orthographic reform was an international adjustment of spelling rules adopted in 1990 by multiple cultural and linguistic institutions to harmonize written standards across several countries. It aimed to reconcile divergent practices among authorities such as the Academia Brasileira de Letras, the Real Academia Española, the Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement of 1990 signatories, and regional bodies including the African Union member states that use the affected languages. The reform generated debates among figures associated with the European Commission, the UNESCO, and national ministries like the Ministry of Education (Brazil) and the Ministry of Culture (Portugal).

Background and Motivation

Scholars from institutions such as the Universidade de São Paulo, the Universidade de Lisboa, the Universidade Estadual de Campinas, and the University of Porto collaborated with representatives from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries to address discrepancies noted by earlier commissions including members of the International Phonetic Association and panels convened by the Organization of Ibero-American States. Debates referenced comparative cases like the Spelling Reform of 1948 in other language areas and were informed by precedent from the Académie française discussions and reforms under the Weimar Republic educational changes, as well as by transnational initiatives exemplified by the Council of Europe language cooperation projects. Motivations included facilitating literary exchange between authors affiliated with the Museu de Arte de São Paulo, translators working with publishers such as Editora Abril and Porto Editora, and legal harmonization for courts like the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil and the Constitutional Court of Portugal.

Key Changes and Rules

The reform revised hyphenation, the use of diacritics, and consonant retention in loanwords as discussed in documents circulated among the Brazilian Academy of Letters delegates, the Royal Spanish Academy observers, and editors at the Diário de Notícias. It addressed consonant clusters found in toponyms catalogued by the Instituto Geográfico Português and names registered with civil registries influenced by the Cartório de Registro Civil system. Specific rule sets touched on the elimination or preservation of consonants in words related to literature by authors like José Saramago and Carlos Drummond de Andrade, and orthographic variants used in newspapers such as O Globo and Público (Portugal). Committees drew on comparative orthographies such as those used by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and models discussed during conferences at institutions like the Sorbonne and the University of Salamanca.

Implementation and Reception

Implementation timelines were set by national decrees from cabinets led by prime ministers and presidents including offices in Lisbon, Brasília, Maputo, and Luanda, coordinated with cultural ministries and academic bodies like the Instituto Camões and the Fundação Casa de Rui Barbosa. Publishers such as Companhia das Letras and broadcasters including Rádio Renascença and Rede Globo adjusted style guides, while schools under curricula approved by the Ministry of Education (Portugal) and the Ministry of Education (Brazil) introduced revised textbooks produced by houses like Leya. Universities including the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro ran seminars with participation from poets linked to the Gulbenkian Foundation and critics from journals like Revista de História. International bodies including UNESCO and the European Union offered forums where diplomats from embassies in Paris and Madrid observed the rollout.

Legal and Institutional Framework

Ratification involved treaties and accords signed by representatives of states in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries and enacted through legislation processed in parliaments such as the Assembleia da República (Portugal) and the National Congress of Brazil. Implementation oversight was designated to academies like the Academia Brasileira de Letras, regulatory councils similar to those of the Direcção-Geral do Livro, dos Arquivos e das Bibliotecas, and national institutes including the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística for geographical names. Judicial challenges reached courts like the Supremo Tribunal Federal and administrative reviews were lodged with ministries akin to the Ministry of Justice (Portugal), while cultural institutions such as the Casa de América and Instituto Histórico e Geográfico Brasileiro provided expertise.

Impact on Education and Media

Textbook publishers such as Editora Moderna, broadcasters like Antena 1 (Portugal), and newspapers including Folha de S.Paulo transitioned to the new norms, affecting curricula at schools overseen by the Secretaria de Educação do Estado de São Paulo and higher education at institutions like the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Literary prizes such as the Prêmio Camões and awards administered by the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian saw submissions adjusted for the revised orthography, while libraries like the Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal and the Biblioteca Nacional do Brasil updated cataloging rules. International book fairs in cities including São Paulo, Lisbon, and Luanda reflected the changes as publishers and translators from houses like Edições Asa adapted.

Controversies and Criticism

Critics included academics from the University of Coimbra and columnists writing for Expresso (Portugal) and O Estado de S. Paulo, who echoed concerns previously raised in disputes over reforms in places like the United Kingdom and France. Political figures in legislatures such as the Assembleia Nacional de Cabo Verde and civic groups active in São Paulo and Lisbon organized protests and petitions, while intellectuals referenced stylistic authority disputes reminiscent of clashes involving the Académie Française and debates in periodicals like The Times Literary Supplement. Legal suits and public campaigns involved organizations similar to the Ordem dos Advogados de Portugal and educational unions comparable to the Sindicato dos Professores, generating prolonged public discussion across media outlets from TVI (Portugal) to TV Globo.

Category:Orthography reforms