Dialectal Variation of the Portuguese Language. Evolution of the Portuguese Language in the Context of Migration: the "comunidade portuguesa" of Montreal

This paper provides insight into the complex process of how the Portuguese language used within the "Portuguese community" of Montreal is evolving. This community, created from the migration process started in the 1950s, is an example of linguistic integration in the particular context of the Canadian city, where French and English dominate the linguistic panorama. This socio-linguistic research will focus on the dynamic of the Portuguese language used in the group, analysing 7 "elements of weakness" of its structure, which are consequences of the contact with the two dominant languages. In addition, the research analyses language representation inside the group. We consider how the Portuguese language and culture may well survive over the years, within the community, the process of transmission from one generation to another, and the promotion as a language of the future, international and business language. Language representation may help in understanding the complex process of defining the group's identity through language practices and uses.