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California to Levy Fines for Poor Speech

October 5, 2006

Sacramento, California -- California will levy fines on those incorrectly using the state language, and will set up a specialized division to weed out offenders who mix English with Spanish.

Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Gil Cedillo said fines of up to $1,000 can be imposed on displays with any wrong or mutated form of Spanish.

The move was to ensure "the state language was not sidelined in any way," Cedillo said.
Fines will be imposed after a first warning, said Cedillo..

Most Californians speak Spanish, but a mutated form, known as "Spanglish" - a mishmash of Spanish, English and other local dialects is commonly used in the North.

The government will attempt to swap commonly used English language words with Spanish substitutes.
"It has to be admitted that a mixture of Spanish and English sometimes cannot be helped, but we hope these measures can arrest the decline," Cedillo said.

He said a state language unit will be set up in an attempt to reduce the English-Spanish mix, especially at official functions.

An official at Cedillo’s ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed his comments as reported.

Critics have said California’s decision to sideline English in favor of Spanish is hurting its global competitiveness level and a downward spiral in English language standards among students.