lusitanization

English

Alternative forms

• Lusitanization
• lusitanisation, Lusitanisation (UK)

Etymology

From lusitanize +‎ -ation, from Lusitanian + ize, ultimately from Latin Lusitania (“pre-Roman and Roman Portugal”), used archaistically in New Latin and English in reference to modern Portugal. Partially on the model of more common terms such as gallicization and partially as a calque of Portuguese lusitanización, from lusitanizar + -ación, from lusitano (“Lusitanian, Portuguese”) + -izar.

Noun

lusitanization (uncountable)

1. The act or process of making Portuguese or more Portuguese-like.

   The attempted lusitanization of Goa and Macao took place over centuries but was only ever partially successful.

   • 2015, Cristine Severo et al., “Lusitanization and Bakhtinian Perspectives on the Role of Portuguese in Angola and East Timor”, in Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, volume 36, number 2, pages 112–113:

     "Lusitanization" was used as a form of dissemination of (the idea of) Portuguese language through the use of multiple strategies to reinforce the political role of Portuguese as an official language... colonization and "Lusitanization" reinforce and constitute each other mutually.

2. The act or process of becoming Portuguese or more Portuguese-like.

   The lusitanization of Brazil was accompanied by far higher levels of immigration than occurred in Angola or Mozambique.

   • 2019, Susan de Oliveira, The Luso and Rap, abstract:

     The language policy in Brazil is exclusionary, segregating, and reminiscent of the process of Lusitanization...

Synonyms

• Portuguesify