Brief Grammar of the Portuguese Language

Published in 1910, this practical grammar manual served English speakers seeking a fast, usable command of Portuguese. But what elevates it beyond a mere instructional text is the author's passionate defense of Brazilian Portuguese against the widespread assumption that it was "badly spoken Portuguese." John Casper Branner, a geologist who organized Stanford's 1911 Expedition to Brazil, wrote this volume from decades of firsthand experience in the country. He drew examples from both Portuguese and Brazilian writers, yet gave deliberate prominence to Brazilian usage, insisting on the legitimacy of the language as spoken in Brazil. For linguists and historians, the book serves as a valuable artifact of early 20th-century language politics and the slow struggle for recognition of Brazilian Portuguese as a distinct, full-fledged variety. For students of the language, it offers both practical grammar and a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of attitudes toward one of the world's most spoken languages.