Língua Geral of São Paulo


The Língua Geral Paulista, or Tupí Austral, was a Tupi-based trade language of São Vicente, São Paulo, and the upper Tietê River. In the 17th century, it was widely spoken in São Paulo and spread to neighboring regions. Starting in 1750, orders from Marquis of Pombal forced Portuguese to be taught to Brazilian children in schools. Língua Geral Paulista subsequently lost ground to Portuguese and eventually became extinct.