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The Italian government is considering new rules to protect the Italian language from foreign words.
The proposed law says that public officials would have to pay a fine of up to €100,000 ($108,705) for using foreign words in official communications. The law particularly focuses on English words because they have become common in the Italian language.
The law would require all public officials to have good knowledge of Italian and bans the use of English in official documents, including job titles. For example, the word CEO (Chief Executive Officer) wouldn’t be allowed.
The law would also require foreign companies to have Italian versions of their rules and work contracts.
If the law passes, the Culture Ministry would establish a committee to make sure that Italian is used correctly in schools, media, business, and advertising.
The law could even cover pronunciation. So, if someone in government, education, or business says a word incorrectly, they could be punished.
The Italian government is also trying to protect the country’s food. Italy has recently applied for UNESCO World Heritage Site status for Italian cuisine. UNESCO will decide in December 2025.
Vocabulary
- Consider – to think about carefully; to take ‘something’ into account when thinking or deciding;
- Protect – keep safe or secure; guard; defend
- Foreign – from another country; something from outside of your country; belonging or connected to a country that is not your own
- Propose – to suggest; to put forward; to recommend; to submit
- Law – a rule, regulation, or guideline set by the government
- Public official – a person who works for the government
- Fine – a penalty or punishment you have to pay with money
- Official communication – a formal or important message sent by the government or a business
- Particularly – to give special emphasis to a point; to indicate that what you are saying applies especially to one thing or situation; specifically; especially
- Common – occurring or appearing frequently; something that happens often or is normal
- Require – make necessary; to order or demand something
- Ban – to not allow; to stop; to forbid; prohibit;
- CEO (Chief Executive officer) – the top person in a large company; president; boss
- Allowed – permission to do something; it’s OK; permitted; you may; you can
- Version – a copy of something that has been changed so it’s a little different; something a little different from others of the same type
- Contract – an agreement between two or more people or organizations
- Pass a law – when the government makes a new rule that everyone has to follow; to start a new law; when a new law is approved by the government
- Ministry – a department of a government (education ministry, health ministry, foreign ministry, etc.)
- Establish – start; set up; create; begin
- Committee – a group of people who work together on a task or project
- Advertising – the action of showing a product or service so people want to buy it; the activity of creating advertisements and making sure people see them;
- Pronunciation – the way words are said or spoken
- Education – the process of teaching and learning, giving knowledge and understanding
- Punish – to cause someone who has done something wrong to suffer, by hurting them, forcing them to pay money, or sending them to prison; discipline; penalize;
- Apply for – to formally request something; register
- Cuisine – a style or type of cooking, usually from a particular culture or region
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- What do you think about the proposed law to protect the Italian language from foreign words? Do you think it is necessary or unnecessary?
- Why do you think the Italian government is particularly focused on English words? Are there a lot of English words and phrases in your language?
- Do you think the proposed law will have any negative effects on businesses in Italy? Why or why not?
- In your opinion, is Italian cuisine important and deserving of UNESCO World Heritage Site status?
Original Story
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
