Audio By Carbonatix
Italians who use English and other foreign words in official communications could face fines of up to €100,000 ($108,705) under new legislation introduced by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party.
Fabio Rampelli, a member of the lower chamber of deputies, introduced the legislation, which is supported by the prime minister.
While the legislation encompasses all foreign languages, it is particularly geared at “Anglomania” or use of English words, which the draft states “demeans and mortifies” the Italian language, adding that it is even worse because the UK is no longer part of the EU.
The bill, which has yet to go up for parliamentary debate, requires anyone who holds an office in public administration to have “written and oral knowledge and mastery of the Italian language.” It also prohibits use of English in official documentation, including “acronyms and names” of job roles in companies operating in the country.
Foreign entities would have to have Italian language editions of all internal regulations and employment contracts, according to a draft of the legislation seen by CNN.
“It is not just a matter of fashion, as fashions pass, but Anglomania has repercussions for society as a whole,” the draft bill states.
The first article of the legislation guarantees that even in offices that deal with non-Italian-speaking foreigners, Italian must be the primary language used.
Article 2 would make Italian “mandatory for the promotion and use of public goods and services in the national territory.” Not doing so could garner fines between €5,000 ($5,435) and €100,000 ($108,705).
Under the proposed law, the Culture Ministry would establish a committee whose remit would include “correct use of the Italian language and its pronunciation” in schools, media, commerce and advertising.
This would mean that saying “bru-shetta” instead of “bru-sketta” could be a punishable offense.
The move to safeguard the Italian language joins an existing bid by the government to protect the country’s cuisine.
It has introduced legislation to ban so-called synthetic or cell-based cuisine due to the lack of scientific studies on the effects of synthetic food, as well as “to safeguard our nation’s heritage and our agriculture based on the Mediterranean diet,” Meloni’s Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said in a press conference.
Latest Stories
-
Livestream: NSMQ 2026 Grand Finale, PRESEC, AUGUSCO and Accra Academy battle for national glory
5 minutes -
Best Assurance donates GH¢100,000 to GETFund to support education
8 minutes -
Uphold Constitution, administer justice without fear or favour – Mahama to new Justices
16 minutes -
Mahama urges Supreme Court justices to protect public trust in judiciary
18 minutes -
Dumelo wishes NSMQ finalists well ahead of contest
23 minutes -
Let your reasoning and fairness define your legacy – Mahama to new justices
25 minutes -
Mahama charges new Supreme Court justices to protect judicial independence
35 minutes -
Mahama swears in three new Supreme Court justices
40 minutes -
TUC calls for urgent review of Labour Act to strengthen workers’ rights
57 minutes -
AMA proposes city-to-city partnerships with Russian cities
1 hour -
Ghana pushes China for deeper mining partnerships, value addition
1 hour -
UTAG-KNUST escalates Pro-VC, Dean appointment dispute to University Council
1 hour -
DKM boss Delle K. Martin withdraws from Nandom NPP primaries
1 hour -
Ghana to pre-qualify local companies to manufacture vaccines for African market
2 hours -
Handcuffs won’t cure it: The incentive behind Ghana’s ‘insult economy’
2 hours