With the ongoing process of globalization, there has been a surge in nationalist movements.
Italy is the latest country to join this trend, as the party led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has introduced a draft bill in parliament to ban the use of foreign words, particularly English, in official communications by both public and private entities.
Fine of upto €100,000 on Violating the Language Order
The proposed bills, which are backed by the Italian Prime Minister, seek to uphold the Italian language by prohibiting the use of foreign terms and imposing fines of up to €100,000 (Rs 89.3 lakh) on violators.
These bills have been drafted by the Brothers of Italy party and introduced by lower chamber of deputies member Fabio Rampelli.
Bill Proposed due to Raised Concerns over Italy’s Culture & Economy
The use of foreign languages in Italy has been a concern for its citizens as it not only erodes the country’s cultural identity but also adversely affects its economy.
Italy had recently blocked ChatGPT due to concerns about data privacy.
With this proposed bill, Italy will be the first western country to take a step towards promoting its language by banning the use of foreign words in official communications.
According to the proposed bill, the use of English language has a negative impact on Italian language and culture.
The bill aims to promote the use of the “language of Dante” by mandating public and private entities to use it in the promotion of their goods and services.
The bill argues that the spread of English “demeans and humiliates” the Italian language and has social implications as well.
In addition to promoting the use of the Italian language, the proposed bill highlights the negative impact of “Anglomania” on Italian society.
The bill emphasizes the importance of protecting and nurturing the Italian language, stating that the widespread use of English in Europe is even more negative and paradoxical after Britain’s exit from the European Union.
The draft bill suggests that English usage has repercussions for society as a whole, not just a passing fashion trend.
According to CNN, the proposed bill would create a committee under the Culture Ministry, responsible for ensuring the correct use of the Italian language and its pronunciation in various domains such as schools, media, commerce, and advertising.
This implies that even minor errors in pronunciation or usage, such as saying “bru-shetta” instead of “bru-sketta,” could be punishable under the law.
For the proposed bill to become law, it must be approved by both houses of the Italian parliament, but there is no indication yet as to when this might happen.
This bill is part of the far-right government’s effort to preserve the country’s local culture.
Italy has also recently banned the use of laboratory-produced food to safeguard its agri-food heritage.
