State of the Statehouse

Inglés Será Idioma Oficial de Idaho: English Will be the Official Language of Idaho

By Jill Kuraitis, 3-02-07

Un comité del Senado de Idaho hoy votó para hacer el inglés el idioma oficial del estado.

(A committee of the Idaho Senate today voted to make English the state’s official language.)

El voto era seis a tres. El Senador Republicano Joe Stegner y los Demócratas Edgar Malapei y Clint Stennett votaron el No.

(The vote was six to three.  Republican Senator Joe Stegner and Democrats Edgar Malapei and Clint Stennett voted No.)

Senator Mel Richardson, R 莫斯科 幅参 向于票据, 不是英国唯一票据。有例外适当过程和其他心。仔 地读票据并 且它是那里.)

(Senator Mel Richardson, R-Idaho Falls, spoke in favor of the bill, saying “This is not an English-only bill.  There are exceptions for due process and other concerns.  Read the bill carefully and it’s there.”

Senator Michael Jorgenson, R-Hayden Meer, gesê i kan gee u voorbeelde van waar ‘n tekort aan ‘n alledaags(e) taal is ‘n probleem. suid-afrika ly aan sewe verskillend tale.

(Senator Michael Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, said “I can give you examples of where a lack of a common language is a problem. South Africa suffers from seven different languages.”)

De twee Senatoren die tegen de rekening spraken hadden verschillende redenen. Malapei, die van Samoan voorgeslacht is, versperde omhoog tijdens zijn verklaring en moest een minuut vergen om samen te stellen. Hij zei de rekening “tot divisiveness” leidt en opmerkte dat de mensen in andere landen het probleem nemen om het Engels te leren, maar Amerikanen vergelden niet.

(The two Senators who spoke against the bill had different reasons.  Malapei, who is of Samoan ancestry, choked up during his testimony and had to take a minute to compose himself. He said the bill “creates divisiveness” and noted that people in other countries take the trouble to learn English, but Americans don’t reciprocate.)

("г-н руководитель, это справедливые правыми,” сказанное Malapei. 

(“Mr. Chairman, this is just not right,” Malapei said.)

El único republicano a votar contra la cuenta, Stegner dicho, “opondré el movimiento. Es un pedazo de la legislación divisivo que, en mi opinión, impone la voluntad de una mayoría overzealous. Uno de mis trabajos aquí debe tomar en la consideración las derechas y las preocupaciones de la minoría.”

(The only Republican to vote against the bill, Stegner said, “I will be opposing the motion. It’s a divisive piece of legislation which, in my opinion, imposes the will of an overzealous majority. One of my jobs here is to take into consideration the rights and concerns of the minority.”)

The rich and varied languages above are Spanish, Simple Chinese, Afrikaans, Dutch, Russian, and Spanish again. All are spoken somewhere in Idaho.

[End of article]
Comment By Jay Kanta, 3-02-07

(sarcasm)Well, you see, these are time travelling Republicans. They have seen the future when English is a minority language in the United States. Given that knowledge, they have decided to try to delay the inevitable future. I applaud our time travelling saviors and will be the first in line to work in their english language CD mines.(/sarcasm)

Comment By Marie, 3-02-07

Great article Jill!
I guess I better start applying my English accent and adding "u"s to favor (favour) and neighbor (neighbour), because even I don't speak/write English properly:)

Comment By Sharon Fisher, 3-03-07

I am eagerly awaiting the time when we take Esto Perpetua off the state seal and change the name of Coeur d'Alene. The law's the law, after all.

Comment By Mark, 3-03-07

Good article, Jill. One minor correction: Sen. Mel Richardson is not from Moscow. He represents Idaho Falls. We may not have the delegation I would most prefer here in Moscow, but at least they have enough sense to stay many miles away from this pile of %&*#.

Comment By Jill Kuraitis, 3-03-07

Mark, thank you! for pointing out my error. My apology to readers. Will fix it.

Comment By Joan Opyr, 3-19-07

Brilliant piece, Jill. South Africa "suffers" from seven different languages? First, I'd like to know where Senator Jorgenson got that number -- it's too small. I'd also like to know why he thinks language is a problem in South Africa. Apartheid was a problem. HIV is a problem. But being multilingual? No worries, mate.

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