The country is in dispute with Venezuela over the territory of Essequibo
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Maria Clara Andrade
The Aurélio Dictionary and the Definition of “Guyana”
Photo: Reproduction
Given Venezuela's recent claim to annex the Essequibo territory, part of Guyana, the way the latter country's name is pronounced has raised doubts among many Brazilians. Finally, is it “Guiana” or “Guiana”?
If we were to consider similar words in the Portuguese language, our first instinct would be to say “Guiana,” just as we pronounce “Guilherme” or “guia.” But the dictionary goes in a different direction when it comes to the country.
When demonstrating the pronunciation of “Guyana” The Aurélio and Michaelis dictionaries place an accent on the “u” to emphasize that it must be pronounced.
The Michaelmas Dictionary also brings in the accent to show that the “u” must be pronounced
Photo: Reproduction
Professor Camilla Wootton, 32, who teaches Portuguese to foreigners, believes the correct pronunciation of “Guyana” is very rare in Brazil. “I think it would be interesting to do some research on the street because Brazilians are very confused with this pronunciation. Nobody can speak,” he says.
She herself admits that she feels like pronouncing “gui” like the silent “u”. Based on Camilla's knowledge, she says she has never found another word in Portuguese that follows the same rule as “Guiana,” which she considers an exception.
“It is a word of indigenous origin. So the pronunciation in Spanish is “Guyana” or in Rio de la Plata Spanish “Guaxana”. Do you see that the tonic is similar, right? “Guyana” and “Guyana”. In English the pronunciation will be slightly different, it will be “Guyana”. So it would probably be something foreign that we adapted, like we would with other words,” he reflects.
Even before the spelling reform, the word “Guyana” had neither an umlaut nor an accent. The teacher analyzes that perhaps it would be easier for the speaker if there was an accent.
“Instinct suggests the use of the umlaut, which has also left the tongue. I really miss the umlaut. I think he's really missed. Especially because I’m a Portuguese teacher for foreigners and the foreigner just has to guess that the pronunciation is “linguiça” and “sagui.”
Linguistics professor Amanda dos Reis from the Federal University of Recôncavo Baiano (UFRB) assures Brazilian speakers that perfect pronunciation should not be a problem in everyday life. “Both forms, 'Guiana' or 'Guiana', are worthy of analysis for sociolinguistics and are not subject to linguistic correction as such.”
Venezuela displays a “new map” in which it occupies part of the neighboring country
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