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Mispronouncing the word 'Bruschetta' could soon cost thousands of euros in Italy, where politicians want to pass a law to penalize 'Anglomania'

Apr 4, 2023, 07:29 IST
Business Insider
Fiddie's Italian Kitchen
  • Italy's government is hell-bent on passing a law that would penalize the use of non-Italian words.
  • The proposed law would fine people who they believe are bastardizing the language.
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Italy's ruling party has had it with the bastardization of their language and is seeking to pass a new law asking people to say ciao to English words and to show Italian food some real amore.

According to CNN, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing Brothers of Italy party is seeking to impose fines of up to €100,000 ($108,705) for people who use phrases or words in languages other than Italian in official communications.

The proposed law seeks to stop "Anglomania," which "demeans and mortifies," Italian language and culture, according to the bill's text—and could even penalize Italians who mispronounce words like "Bruschetta."

Pronouncing the word Bruschetta as "bru-shetta" and not "bru-sketta," for example, could cost Italians financially under the proposed law, according to CNN. Saying "Grazie," thank you in Italian, without the right accentuation at the end of the word may as well be an insult, and could also be a fineable offense for Italian bureaucrats.

"It is not just a matter of fashion, as fashions pass, but Anglomania has repercussions for society as a whole," parliamentarian Fabio Rampelli wrote in the draft bill, per CNN. Meloni's party is in support of the bill, which will be opened for parliamentary debate soon.

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Italian residents under the law would be required to use their native language as the main language "for the promotion and use of public goods and services in the national territory," and could face fines between €5,000 and €100,000 for using other languages.

According to Euronews, if passed, Meloni's government would need to stop using english words that have replaced longer Italian expressions, and instead of the adopted "dispenser," politicians would have to revert to, "dispensatore di liquido igienizzante per le mani."

LET'S ADD ANOTHER SOURCE HERE, MAYBE THE ONE YOU SHARED THIS MORNING WITH THE DETAIL ABOUT THE HAND SANITIZER DISPENSER.

The law would go even further in terms of the cultural ramifications.

According to CNN, the culture ministry would form a committee to advise school children, university students, and business people on how to properly pronounce Italian words — and ultimately, avoid fines.

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