New Delhi: The Italian government is going to ban the use of the English language in its country. According to CNN, citizens in Italy will soon be fined heavily for using English or any other foreign language for official communication.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party has introduced a new law that proposes a fine of up to one million euros for using any foreign language, especially English, in official communications. According to CNN, Italians could be fined 100,000 euros (US$108,705) if they use English or any other foreign language during their official communications under a new law introduced by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party shall be liable to pay a fine.
Fabio Rampelli, leader of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies (lower house), introduced the law, which has been supported by the prime minister. The law talks about not using any foreign language, but it specifically focuses on “Anglomania” or the use of English words. The draft law states that the use of a foreign language degrades and humiliates the Italian language. It is even worse at a time when Britain is no longer part of the European Union, he added. However, this bill has yet to be brought up for debate in Parliament and requires holding an office in public administration to have written and oral knowledge and mastery of the Italian language.
The law also prohibits the use of English in official documents, including acronyms and names for job roles in companies operating in the country. Foreign entities must have Italian-language versions of all internal regulations and employment contracts, according to a draft law seen by CNN. The draft states that it is not just a matter of fashion, because fashion passes, but the effect of Anglomania on the whole society.
Article 2 gives Italy the power to make it mandatory for the promotion and use of public goods and services in the national territory. Failure to do so can result in fines ranging from 5,000 euros (US$5,435) to 100,000 euros.
