Why did Modernist writers use colloquial Brazilian Portuguese instead of formal Portuguese?

Modernist writers in Brazil adopted colloquial Brazilian Portuguese as a deliberate act of cultural rebellion. By rejecting the "correct" or academic Portuguese that had long dominated the arts, they sought to break free from colonial cultural practices and European influence.12

This shift was central to the Modernismo movement, which aimed to modernize national thought and create an authentically Brazilian method of expression. By incorporating the speech patterns, syntax, and vocabulary of everyday Brazilians, writers like Mário de Andrade and Manuel Bandeira challenged the rigid, well-behaved lyricism of the past.12

Ultimately, this linguistic reform was not an end in itself but a tool for social and cultural transformation. It allowed artists to treat distinctively Brazilian themes—such as native folklore and the realities of national life—with a voice that felt genuine and independent, symbolizing a cultural independence that mirrored Brazil's earlier political sovereignty.12