Several major world languages have been subject to big spelling reforms : Spanish ( in the 18th century ) , Portuguese ( in 1910 , in Portugal , and in 1946 and 1972 , in Brazil ) , German ( in 1901\/02 and 1996\/98 ) and Russian ( in 1728 and 1919 ) . Several major world languages have undergone wholesale spelling reforms : Spanish ( in the 18th century ) , Portuguese ( in 1911 and 1945 , in Portugal , and in 1946 , 1971 , and 2009 , in Brazil ) , German ( in 1901\/02 and 1996\/98 ) , Irish in 1948 and Russian ( in 1708 and 1919 ) .