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Originally Posted by NousDefionsDoc
You will confuse the two. I would switch to Spanish. Not very many people speak Portagee, but if you understand Spanish or Italian, you can understand it.
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NDD is right about the probability of confusion. Spanish and Portugese are very similar. I've had the difference explained to me as Portugese being an archaic form of Spanish. (Something I'm sure the Portugese will resent.) Stick with the language that's going to be more useful in the long run. In today's world that means Spanish. And don't confuse street Mexican with educated Spanish. Learn the quality, root language and get it right the first time. All of the sub-groups understand the "mother tongue", none of them will admit to understanding each other. (Try getting a Mexican to interpret for a Puerto Rican - or vice versa!) You'll have a lifetime to pick up regional dialects but if you start there you'll always be marked if you try to cross over between the various subcultures - something that can be a handicap in our line of work. Something like a "Down Easter' in Mobile, or a "Valley Girl" anywhere. FWIW - Peregrino