Review of Otto Zwartjes, Portuguese missionary grammars in Asia, Africa and Brazil, 1550-1800 (Amsterdam studies in the theory and history of linguistic science. Series III, Studies in the History of the Language Sciences, 117).

Abstract

Missionary grammars written in Portuguese were shaped as practical tools for language teaching and after the end of mission period were swiftly forgotten. Most of this vast production is lost. Some grammars remained in libraries as a precious heritage, others were brought to Europe and a few were printed. Once rediscovered, they were considered partial descriptions or excessively contaminated by Latin grammar.