Fundamental Questions & Answers on Graphical Accentuation

Q1: What is graphical accentuation?

A: Graphical accentuation is the use of diacritical signs, such as acute accent (´), circumflex accent (^), tilde (~), and grave accent (`), placed on letters to indicate the correct pronunciation of words, especially the tonic syllable.

Q2: What are the purposes of accentuation rules?

A: Accentuation rules serve to standardize writing and ensure the correct pronunciation of words. We accentuate words to signal the tonic syllable and to differentiate words with the same spelling but different meanings or grammatical functions (homographs).

Q3: What are the rules for accentuating paroxytones?

A: Paroxytones are accented when ending in l, n, r, x, ps, ã(s), ão(s), or um, uns, i(s), us, ê(s), ô(s), êm, êns. For example, 'álbum' and 'hóspedes' are accented paroxytonic words.

Q4: When do we accentuate oxytonic words?

A: Oxytonic words are accented when ending in a(s), e(s), o(s), em, ens. Examples include 'pará', 'café', and 'avião'.

Q5: How do we know when to use acute or circumflex accent?

A: The acute accent is used to indicate an open pronunciation in the vowels a, e, and o, as well as to indicate tonality in the vowels i and u. The circumflex accent, on the other hand, is used to indicate a closed pronunciation in the letters e and o. For example, 'avó' (open, with acute) and 'avô' (closed, with circumflex).

Q6: When do we use the grave accent, indicative of crasis?

A: The grave accent is used when there is a fusion of the preposition 'a' with definite feminine articles (a, as) or demonstrative pronouns (aquele(s), aquela(s), aquilo). For example, 'Vou à escola' indicates the fusion of 'a' (preposition) with 'a' (feminine article).

Q7: What is a hiatus, and how do we accentuate words with hiatus?

A: A hiatus occurs when two vowels that do not form a diphthong appear together in separate syllables, such as 'sa-í-da'. We accentuate the i and u of the hiatus when they are alone in the syllable or accompanied by s, without being followed by nh, and do not form a syllable with the following letter. For example, 'saúde' and 'raíz'.

Q8: What are the accentuation rules for proparoxytonic words?

A: All proparoxytonic words are accented. Examples of these words are 'lógica' and 'médico'.

Q9: Is there any special rule for accentuating verbs?

A: Yes, verbs ending in 'guar', 'quar', or 'guir', where the 'u' is pronounced, receive an acute accent on the 'u' to signal this pronunciation, as in 'averigúe' and 'obliqúe'.

Q10: Did the orthographic reform change some accentuation rules?

A: Yes, the 2009 orthographic reform eliminated the differential accent in words like 'pelo' (substantive) and 'pelo' (contraction), and the accent on the open diphthongs 'ei' and 'oi' in paroxytonic words, such as 'ideia' and 'jiboia'.

This summary of questions and answers should help consolidate your knowledge about graphical accentuation and prepare you to recognize and correctly apply accents in Portuguese words.

Questions & Answers by Difficulty Level on Graphical Accentuation

Basic Q&A

Q1: Why are the words 'ágil' and 'útil' accented?

A: 'Ágil' and 'útil' are paroxytonic words ending in 'l', so they are accented according to the rule that paroxytones ending in 'l' receive an acute accent.

Q2: Is the word 'cafezinho' accented? Why?

A: No, 'cafezinho' is not accented because it is a paroxytonic word ending in 'o' followed by 'zinho', a suffix, and the accentuation rule for paroxytones does not include endings with diminutive suffixes.

Q3: When should we use the tilde in a word?

A: The tilde is used over the letters 'a' and 'o' to indicate nasalization, forming the nasal vowels 'ã' and 'õ', as in 'mãe' and 'pão'.

Intermediate Q&A

Q4: How do we accentuate words with open diphthongs in a paroxytonic position after the orthographic reform?

A: After the 2009 orthographic reform, open diphthongs 'ei' and 'oi' in paroxytonic words are no longer accented. For example, 'assembleia' and 'ideia' are not accented.

Q5: Is the word 'juiz' accented only because it is oxytonic and ends in 'z'?

A: Yes, 'juiz' is accented because it is an oxytonic word ending in 'z'. Oxytones ending in 'a(s)', 'e(s)', 'o(s)', 'em', 'ens', and 'z' are accented.

Q6: Why are words like 'raiz' and 'país' accented?

A: Words like 'raiz' and 'país' are accented because they are paroxytonic words ending in 'l', 'n', 'r', 'x', 'ps', 'ã(s)', 'ã(o)s', 'um', 'uns', 'i(s)', 'us', 'ê(s)', 'ô(s)', 'êm', or 'êns', falling under the exception that accents paroxytones ending in 'i(s)' and 'us'.

Advanced Q&A

Q7: In what situations are the tonic 'u' and 'i' in paroxytonic and oxytonic words accented?

A: The tonic 'u' and 'i' are accented in paroxytonic and oxytonic words when they are alone in the syllable or accompanied by 's' and are not followed by 'nh', as in 'baú' or 'táxi'.

Q8: Is the differential accent still used in any situation in the Portuguese language?

A: Yes, the differential accent is used in a few words to differentiate homograph pairs, such as 'pôde' (past of poder) and 'pode' (present of poder), and in 'pôr' (verb) to differentiate from 'por' (preposition).

Q9: Why is the word 'ciúme' accented even though it does not end with the typical endings of oxytones and paroxytones that are accented?

A: 'Ciúme' is accented because it has a hiatus, which is the occurrence of two vowels in separate syllables, and the 'u' is alone in the syllable and tonic, following the hiatus accentuation rule.

Remember that accentuation is crucial for the correct pronunciation of words and can alter the meaning if not applied correctly. When studying these Q&As, keep in mind that practice makes perfect, and the use of a good dictionary is always recommended to clarify any doubts about the accentuation of specific words.

Practical Q&A on Graphical Accentuation

Applied Q&A

Q1: How should we accentuate words within a literary text that uses archaic or regional language, where the word forms may not follow current accentuation rules?

A: When encountering texts that employ archaic or regional language, we should initially identify if the words in question follow contemporary accentuation rules. In old literary works or texts representing dialects and regional languages, there may be ancient or adapted forms that do not follow the current standard accentuation. In these cases, it is important to understand the historical-literary context and the author's intentions. However, if the words can be accented following modern rules without altering the meaning or the text's metrics, then we should apply the correct accentuation. Critical or didactic editions often include footnotes to explain such orthographic discrepancies.

Experimental Q&A

Q2: How can we create an educational game that helps students practice accentuation rules in a fun and interactive way?

A: To create an educational game focused on graphical accentuation, it would be interesting to develop an app or board game that combines learning and entertainment. For example, a game of 'accentuated word search' could be created, where students need to find words in a grid that are correctly accented according to the presented rule. Each correct word could earn points and advance the player on the board. There could also be challenge cards with sentences where students need to identify and correct accentuation errors. The game would encourage the practice of accentuation rules in a playful context, stimulating memorization through repetition and practical application of knowledge.

Remember that delving into the world of graphical accentuation ventures into a vital part of Portuguese writing. Mastering this knowledge allows not only effective written communication but also helps preserve the rich linguistic heritage of our language. Good luck on your accented journey!