This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (July 2010)

Macanese or Macau Creole (known as Patuá to its speakers) is a creole language derived mainly from Malay, Sinhalese, Cantonese, and Portuguese, which was originally spoken by the Macanese community of the Portuguese colony of Macau. It is now spoken by a few families in Macau and in the Macanese diaspora.

On February 20, 2009, the new edition of UNESCO’s Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger classified Patua as a "critically endangered" language. The Atlas puts the number of Patua speakers at 50 as of the year 2000.

The language is also called by its speakers Papia Cristam di Macau ("Christian speech of Macau"), and has been nicknamed Dóci Língu di Macau ("Sweet Language of Macau") and Doci Papiaçam ("sweet speech") by poets. In Portuguese it is called Macaense, Macaista Chapado ("pure Macanese"), or Patuá (from French patois).

History[link]

Origins[link]

Patuá arose in Macau after the territory was "gradually occupied by Portugal after the mid-16th century" [according to the preamble to Macau Basic Law] and became a major hub of the Portuguese naval, commercial, and religious activities in East Asia.

The language developed first mainly among the descendants of Portuguese settlers. These often married women from Malacca and Sri Lanka rather than from neighboring China, so the language had strong Malay and Sinhalese influence from the beginning. In the 17th century it was further influenced by the influx of immigrants from other Portuguese colonies in Asia, especially from Malacca, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, that had been displaced by the Dutch expansion in the East Indies, and Japanese Christian refugees.

Evolution[link]

Like any other language, Macanese underwent extensive changes in usage, grammar, syntax, and vocabulary over the centuries, in response to changes in Macau's demographics and cultural contacts. Some linguists see a sharp distinction between the "archaic" Macanese, spoken until the early 19th century, and the "modern" form that was strongly influenced by Cantonese. The modern version arose in the late 19th century, when Macanese men began marrying Chinese women from Macau and its hinterland in the Pearl River delta. The British occupation of Hong Kong from the mid-19th century also added many English words to the lexicon.

Over its history the language also acquired elements from several other Indian tongues, Spanish, and a string of other European and Asian languages. These varied influences made Macanese a unique "cocktail" of European and Asian languages.

Miguel Senna Fernandes, a lawyer by profession and Patuá supporter by passion, has said that Patuá was "not yet dead, but the archaic form of Patuá has already died," adding that "modern" Patuá could be considered a "dialect derived from archaic Patuá." He also underlined the fact that "modern" Patuá has been strongly influenced by Cantonese, namely since the beginning of the 20th century, adding that it was "quite a miracle" that Patuá has been able to survive for four centuries in Macau, considering that "Chinese culture is quite absorbing."

"Let's revive an almost lost memory," Fernandes said about efforts by Patuá aficionados to ensure the survival of Macau's "sweet language" that, after all, is part of its unique history.

Cultural importance[link]

The language played an important role in Macau's social and commercial development between the 16th and 19th centuries, when it was the main language of communication among Macau's Eurasian residents. However, even during that period the total number of speakers was relatively small, probably always amounting to just thousands, not tens of thousands of people.

Macanese continued to be spoken as the mother tongue of several thousand of people, in Macau, Hong Kong and elsewhere, through 19th and early 20th century. At that time, Macanese speakers were consciously using the language in opposition to the standard Portuguese of the metropolitan administration. In the early 20th century, for example, it was the vehicle of satirical sketches poking fun at Portuguese authorities. A few writers, such as the late poet José dos Santos Ferreira ("Adé"), chose the "sweet language" as their creative medium.

On the other hand, Macanese never enjoyed any official status, and was never formally taught in Macau. Starting in the late 19th century, its role in the life of the colony was greatly diminished by the central government's drive to establish standard Portuguese throughout its territories. High-society Macanese gradually stopped using it in the early 20th century, because of its perceived "low class" status as a "primitive Portuguese". All people, including many Chinese learning Portuguese as their second or third language, are required to learn standard European Portuguese dialect.

Present status[link]

Macanese use was already in decline while Macau was a Portuguese territory, and that situation is unlikely to improve now that the territory is under Chinese administration. Still, its speakers take great pride in the fact that Macau has its own local language, something that Hong Kong does not have. They argue that Macau's unique status as a 500-year-old bridge between Orient and the Occident justifies deliberate efforts to preserve the Macanese language, and its inclusion in UNESCO's Red Book of Endangered Languages .

In spite of its unique character and centuries-old history, Macanese has received scant attention from linguists. Philologist Graciete Nogueira Batalha (1925–1992) published a number of papers on the language. A Macanese-Portuguese glossary was published in 2001.

Geographic distribution[link]

Macanese is the now nearly extinct native language of the so-called Macanese people, Macau's Eurasian minority, which presently comprises some 8,000 residents in Macau (about 2% of its population), and an estimated 20,000 emigrants and their descendants, especially in Hong Kong, California, Canada, Peru, Brazil, Costa Rica, Australia, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Paria peninsula of Venezuela. Even within that community, Macanese is actively spoken by just several dozen elderly individuals, mostly women in their eighties or nineties, in Macau and Hong Kong, and only a few hundred people among the Macanese Diaspora overseas, namely in California.

Description[link]

Classification and related languages[link]

Macanese is a creole language, that is, the result of a fusion of several languages and local innovations that became the mother tongue of a community. As such, it is difficult to classify within any major family.

Because of its historical development, it is closely related to other Portuguese- and Malay-influenced creoles of Southeast Asia, notably the Kristang language of Malacca and the extinct Portuguese-influenced creoles of Indonesia and Flores, as well as to the Indo-Portuguese creoles of Sri Lanka and India.

Lexicon[link]

Most of the Macanese lexicon derives from Malay, through various Portuguese-influenced creoles (papiás) like the Kristang of Malacca and the creole spoken in the Indonesian island of Flores. Words of Malay origin include sapeca ("coin") and copo-copo ("butterfly").

Many words also came from Sinhalese, through the Indo-Portuguese creoles of the Kaffir and Portuguese Burgher communities of Sri Lanka. Some terms derived from other Indian languages through other Indo-Portuguese creoles. Examples of words from these sources include fula ("flower") and lacassa ("vermicelli").

Cantonese contributions include amui ("girl") and laissi ("gift of cash"). English-derived terms include adap (from "hard-up", meaning "short of money") and afet ("fat").

The Portuguese contribution to the lexicon came mainly from the dialects of southern Portugal.

Grammar[link]

There has been little scientific research of Macanese grammar, much less on its development between the 16th and 20th centuries. Its grammatical structure seems to incorporate both European and Asian elements.

Like most Asian languages, Macanese lacks definite articles, and does not inflect verbs: for example, io sam means "I am," and ele sam means "he/she is." Macanese also lacks weak pronouns (io means "I," "me" and "mine"), and has a peculiar way of forming possessive adjectives (ilotro-sua means "theirs").

Progressive action (denoted in English by the "-ing" verbal forms) is denoted by a separate particle ta, presumably derived from Portuguese está ("it is"). Completed actions are likewise indicated by the particle ja, presumably from Portuguese já ("right now" or "already").

Reduplication is used to make plural nouns (casa-casa = "houses"), plural adjectives (china-china = "several Chinese people or things"), and emphatic adverbs (cedo-cedo = "very early"), a pattern also found in Malay grammar.

Writing system[link]

Patuá has no standardized orthography.

Examples[link]

Here is an example of a Patuá poem:

	Portuguese Translation	English Translation
Nhonha na jinela	A moça na janela	Young lady in the window
Co fula mogarim	Com uma flor de jasmim	With a jasmine flower
Sua mae tancarera	Sua mãe é uma Chinesa pescadora	Her mother is a Chinese fisherwoman
Seu pai canarim	Seu pai é um Indiano Português	Her father is a Portuguese Indian

References[link]

• Batalha, Graciete Nogueira (1974). Língua de Macau: o que foi e o que é. Macau: Centro de Informação e Turismo.
• Batalha, Graciete Nogueira (1977). Glossário do dialecto macaense: notas lingüísticas, etnográficas, e folclóricas. Coimbra: Instituto de Estudos Românicos. Revista Portuguesa de Filologia vol. XVII.
• Batalha, Graciete Nogueira (1985). "Situação e perspectivas do português e dos crioulos de origem portuguesa na Ásia Oriental (Macau, Hong Kong, Singapura, Indonesia)". Congresso sobre a situação actual da língua portuguesa no mundo. Lisboa: Instituto de Cultura e Língua Portuguesa, No. 646 vol. 1, 287-303.
• Batalha, Graciete Nogueira (1988). Suplemento ao glossário do dialecto macaense : novas notas linguísticas, etnográficas e folclóricas. Macau: Instituto Cultural de Macau.
• Bruning, Harald (2007). "Patua - A procura do reconhecimento internacional." 'Revista Macau,' 16-25. IV Serie - No. 6. Gabinete de Comunicacao Social da Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau/Delta Edicoes, Lda. Macau: Revista Macau
• Senna Fernandes, Miguel de and Alan Baxter (2004). Maquista Chapado: Vocabulary and Expressions in Macau's Portuguese Creole. Macau: Macau International Institute.
• Santos Ferreira, José dos (1978). Papiá Cristâm di Macau: Epitome de gramática comparada e vocabulário: dialecto macaense. Macau: [s.n.]. ISBN: B0000E9KMD
• Tomás, Isabel (1988). "O crioulo macaense. Algumas questões". Revista de Cultura 2/2: 36-48.
• Tomás, Isabel (1990). "Da vida e morte de um crioulo". Revista de Cultura 4/9: 68-79.
• UNESCO’s Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger (February 2009)- http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=29008&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

N.B. A major part of the above article is based on a feature story by Harald Bruning that was published in the Chinese edition of Macau Magazine, produced by Sinofare Co. Ltd for the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS), in June 2004.

External links[link]

• Description of language
• Macanese: ethnologue report on Macanese.
• Projecto Memória Macaense
• Língua patuá

v t e  Macau topics History Fernão Pires de Andrade Charles Elliot Governor Oldest buildings and structures Anders Ljungstedt Postal history Military under Portuguese rule Transfer of sovereignty Fortaleza do Monte Geography Hac Sa Beach Ilha Verde Geocode Municipalities Freguesia (civil parish) Cotai Culture Demographics Events and festivals Religion Films set in Macau Cuisine Cantopop Language Opera José dos Santos Ferreira Science and Culture Centre Music Rugby Scouting Women Politics Basic Law One Country, Two Systems Political parties (UGDM) Elections Foreign relations Municipal Council Municipality of the Islands Legal system Military Legislative Council Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration Commission Against Corruption Gaming Law Government Administration and Justice Economy and Finance Security Social Affairs and Culture Transport and Public Works Economy Hengqin Immigration Macanese pataca Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) Monetary Authority Companies Tourism Canidrome Gambling Individual Visit Scheme Grand Prix Macau Tower Transport Airlines Airport Ferry Pier Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Roads Buses Transmac TCM Reolian Air Macau Mass transit system Other topics Communications Education Jockey Club Honours system Universities Names Birds Portal WikiProject Macau

This biographies needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2011)

James Wayne Silva (born January 15, 1944) is a Republican United States politician who represents the 67th Assembly District in the California State Assembly.

The 67th Assembly District includes the cities of Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Cypress, La Palma, and Los Alamitos. It also includes portions of the cities of Stanton, Westminster, Garden Grove, and Anaheim, along with unincorporated areas of Rossmoor, and Sunset Beach.

Silva is a member of the Assembly Budget Committee, the Governmental Organization Committee, and the Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, and Internet Media.

A native of Orange County, Silva earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business from San Jose State University and a master's degree from Chapman University. He was an economics teacher in the Garden Grove Unified School District from 1966 until 1994, when he was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Silva holds a real estate broker's license.

Silva served on the Huntington Beach City Council from 1988 until 1994, when he was elected to the Board of Supervisors. Silva was Mayor of Huntington Beach. Silva served three terms as a member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, representing the second district from 1995 to 2006, when he was elected to the State Assembly. Silva is a former member of the Orange County Transportation Authority, Orange County Sanitation District, South Coast Air Quality Management District, and LAFCO.

Silva and his wife, Connie, married in 1970. Their son Chad, born 1976, and their daughter, Donna, born 1978, are both officers in the United States Air Force.

Jim Silva is term-limited in 2012. He is currently considering a race for the state Senate to succeed incumbent Tom Harman, who is also term-limited.

External links[link]

• Official Assembly web site
• Official Campaign web site

v t e Members of the California State Assembly Speaker of the Assembly: John Pérez (D) Speaker Pro Tempore: Fiona Ma (D) Majority Leader: Charles Calderon (D) Minority Leader: Connie Conway (R)        Wesley Chesbro (D)    Jim Nielsen (R)    Dan Logue (R)    Beth Gaines (R)    Richard Pan (D)    Jared Huffman (D)    Michael Allen (D)    Mariko Yamada (D)    Roger Dickinson (D)    Alyson Huber (D)    Susan Bonilla (D)    Fiona Ma (D)    Tom Ammiano (D)    Nancy Skinner (D)    Joan Buchanan (D)    Sandré Swanson (D)    Cathleen Galgiani (D)    Mary Hayashi (D)    Jerry Hill (D)    Bob Wieckowski (D)    Rich Gordon (D)    Paul Fong (D)    Nora Campos (D)    Jim Beall (D)    Kristin Olsen (R)    Bill Berryhill (R)    Bill Monning (D)    Luis Alejo (D)    Linda Halderman (R)    David Valadao (R)    Henry Perea (D)    Shannon Grove (R)    Katcho Achadjian (R)    Connie Conway (R)    Das Williams (D)    Steve Knight (R)    Jeff Gorell (R)    Cameron Smyth (R)    Felipe Fuentes (D)    Bob Blumenfield (D)    Julia Brownley (D)    Mike Feuer (D)    Mike Gatto (D)    Anthony Portantino (D)    Gil Cedillo (D)    John Pérez (D)    Holly Mitchell (D)    Mike Davis (D)    Mike Eng (D)    Ricardo Lara (D)    Steven Bradford (D)    Isadore Hall (D)    Betsy Butler (D)    Bonnie Lowenthal (D)    Warren Furutani (D)    Tony Mendoza (D)    Roger Hernandez (D)    Charles Calderon (D)    Tim Donnelly (R)    Curt Hagman (R)    Norma Torres (D)    Wilmer Carter (D)    Mike Morrell (R)    Brian Nestande (R)    Paul Cook (R)    Kevin Jeffries (R)    Jim Silva (R)    Allan Mansoor (R)    Jose Solorio (D)    Don Wagner (R)    Jeff Miller (R)    Chris Norby (R)    Diane Harkey (R)    Martin Garrick (R)    Nathan Fletcher (I)    Toni Atkins (D)    Brian Jones (R)    Marty Block (D)    Ben Hueso (D)    V. Manuel Perez (D)    Democratic (52)    Republican (27)    Independent (1) California State Legislature California State Assembly California State Senate

This article about a member of the California State Assembly is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e