Feb 20 • 17:15 UTC 🇧🇷 Brazil Folha (PT)

The Anarchism That Works

A public prosecutor in Brazil has filed a civil action against Globo TV for alleged mispronunciation of the word "recorde," claiming it damages the Portuguese language's cultural heritage.

Cléber Eustáquio Neves, a prosecutor from the Federal Public Ministry of Minas Gerais (MPF-MG), has initiated a civil lawsuit against the television network Globo for what he considers a repeated error in pronouncing the word "recorde." Neves argues that the correct prosody should be "reCOrde" (a paroxytone) and not "REcorde" (a proparoxytonic pronunciation), which is commonly used by several Globo presenters. He is seeking a compensation of at least R$ 10 million, claiming the mispronunciation has caused harm to the intangible cultural heritage of the Portuguese language.

This lawsuit has sparked discussions about the priorities and effectiveness of public officials, as many question whether pursuing such matters truly serves public interests. The author expresses skepticism towards the legal and linguistic merits of Neves' claims, suggesting that while legal obligations exist for broadcasters regarding content, the focus on pronunciation deviates from more pressing issues. The commentator implies that this case exemplifies how some public servants may misallocate their time and resources on minor violations rather than addressing significant societal challenges.

Moreover, the incident raises questions about the role of language in media and the cultural responsibilities of broadcasters. Advocates of linguistic precision may support the lawsuit as a means of upholding the integrity of the Portuguese language, yet critics view it as a frivolous use of judicial resources that distracts from more critical legal matters. Overall, the case demonstrates a tension between maintaining linguistic standards and the realities of language use in modern broadcasting.

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