How or why did the Portuguese language diverge so much phonetically from Galician and Spanish?

Answer 1

Hello and Oi, tudo bem?

As all languages evolve, it is wise to consider the historical, economic, sociopolitical aspects, and even the geographical site of the language in question.

Portugal is a result of the numerous invasions that took place since ancient time: Celtic, Iberian, Roman, Arabic . Each of these cultures left their contributions and influences in the Iberian Peninsula where Portugal is located. Those influences can be detected in our language, Portuguese, and even in the Spanish language.

Studying the language history is similar to studying an archeological site: one has to "peel the layers" of time to understand the origins of the language.

Boa sorte!

Profe. L.