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Italian government seeks to ban use of English

In the Italian Chamber of Deputies (Lower House), politician Fabio Rampelli introduced the legislation which was supported by the Prime Minister…reports Asian Lite News

Use of English or any other foreign language by citizens in Italy for formal communication would soon attract hefty penalties, according to CNN.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party has introduced new legislation which proposes a fine of up to Euro 100,000 for using any foreign language, especially English, in official communication. “If Italians use English or any other foreign language during their official communication then they have to pay fines of up to Euro 100,000 (USD 108,705) under new legislation introduced by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party,” CNN reported.

In the Italian Chamber of Deputies (Lower House), politician Fabio Rampelli introduced the legislation which was supported by the Prime Minister.

While the legislation talked about any foreign language but particularly geared at “Anglomania” or the 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 still has to go for the parliamentary debate, and it is required to hold an office in public administration to have “written and oral knowledge and mastery of the Italian language”.

It also prohibits the 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.

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 Euro 5,000 (USD 5,435) and Euro 100,000 (USD 108,705). (ANI)

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India News

Reply in English to representations in English, Madras HC to Centre

The court also directed the Union government and all its instrumentalities to follow the Official Languages Act, especially its Section 3, which says that both the Hindi and English languages should be used for the official documents…reports Asian Lite News.

The Madras High Court on Thursday directed the Central government to respond in English to a representation in English, and follow the provisions of the Official Languages Act, 1963, strictly.

“Once a representation is given in English, it is the duty of the Union government to reply in English only,” it said.

The direction by a division bench of the High Court’s Madurai bench comprising of Justices N. Kirubakaran and Justice M. Duraiswamy came on a Public Interest Litigation filed by Madurai MP, Su Venkitasan, seeking English alone be used in all communications between the Centre and state governments.

Venkitasan had approached the court after the Minister of State for Home had replied to his letter, seeking setting up of examination centres for CRPF paramedical staff recruitment at Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, in Hindi only.

Justice Kirubakaran, citing Article 350 of the Constitution, said that every person is entitled to give representation in any languages used in the Union or the state. He said that once a question is given in English, it is the duty of the Union government to reply in English only. He added that this was in consonance with the Official Languages Act.

The court also directed the Union government and all its instrumentalities to follow the Official Languages Act, especially its Section 3, which says that both the Hindi and English languages should be used for the official documents.

Justice Kirubakaran also said: ” There are several languages in India which are hundreds or even thousands of years old” and that governments should take efforts to preserve the language.

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