Law safeguarding Polish language takes effect
WARSAW: A Polish language purity law forbidding use of foreign languages in
commercials and leaflets came into effect Tuesday, aimed at strengthening
the use of the native tongue as foreign influence increases in Poland.
Under the law, companies selling or advertising foreign goods and services
must provide Polish language translations of all leaflets, instructions or
commercials. Violators can be fined, though the bill doesn't specify
amounts.
All contracts carried out in Poland must be drafted in Polish, and Polish
should be the language used in dealings between business partners when at
least one of them is Polish. The bill makes Polish the mandatory language in
public offices and institutions.
The lower parliament chamber had originally approved a clause demanding that
all foreign words - even names that have Polish equivalents - be translated
into Polish.
The upper chamber, though, amended the bill to avoid the confusion how to
enforce the law. Some wondered if brand names like Margaret Astor cosmetics
and Johnny Walker whiskey would have had to be translated to Malgorzata
Astor or Jan Walker.
Since the fall of communism in 1989, Poland has been flooded with foreign
language names and terminology that eventually took root in everyday
language. Poles now say they buy goods at the "shopping center" instead of
"centrum handlowe," and work in buildings called "tower" or "plaza," instead
of the "biuro," or office.(AP)
For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service
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