The idea grew from a group of 23 MPs led by Fabio Rampelli and close to the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni. It imagines a future where foreign words increasingly shape everyday Italian, both spoken and written. The proposal includes a bill that would impose fines of up to 100,000 euros on companies, universities, and public officials who use non-Italian terms. This is not just a linguistic debate; it is presented as a stand for national linguistic sovereignty amid globalization. (Source: parliamentary statements and media coverage)
The supporters argue that Italian could “collapse” or gradually disappear if foreign terms continue to proliferate, and that using words from other tongues excludes segments of citizens from full participation in democracy. They cite data suggesting English words have risen dramatically in Italian usage. They point to Treccani, the national dictionary, which reportedly contains around 9,000 English-derived terms within an Italian vocabulary of about 800,000 words. (Source: linguistic analysis cited by supporters)
According to them, building a barrier against the spread of foreign terms is essential because globalization and what they call monolingual habits threaten local languages. The aim, they say, is not hostility to outsiders but preservation of Italian in public life and institutions. (Source: campaign materials)
‘Brexitphobia’
The proposal has been revived by Rampelli, who has authored eight articles focusing on English as the language that most often replaces Italian terms, though the broader goal is to reduce the presence of any foreign words in the language. (Source: Rampelli’s writings)
Another motive cited is Brexit. It is argued that English usage has become more conspicuous and, paradoxically, more negative because the country that originated the language left the European Union. The legislators describe the trend as not a passing fad but a broader Anglomania that affects corporate decisions, including those about schools and universities, with consequences for society at large. (Source: parliamentary commentary)
The controversy is not new. In 2015 thousands of Italians protested after the navy used the slogan “Keep calm and join the navy” to recruit. Critics asked whether Italy risked becoming an American colony. The Crusca Academy, the body responsible for Italian language, has run campaigns to curb the spread of English terms and raise public awareness, though success has varied. (Source: historical campaigns and public reaction)
Nonsense
Crusca Academy has argued that the offer is insufficient and has warned there is a real risk that the language could be overrun by foreign terms. Critics on the other side have dismissed the effort as an overreaction, while defenders of Meloni’s administration note that a Made in Italy ministry exists to protect local products and culture. They ask what the broader political agenda might mean for language policy. (Source: Academy statements and political commentary)
In the latest volley of the debate, Antonio Tajani, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, was asked by a journalist about the proposal. He described the bill as parliamentary in origin rather than a direct government initiative, while stressing that it did not reflect the views of the late dictator Benito Mussolini. (Source: parliamentary press remarks)
He emphasized a defense of the Italian language as a mother tongue, invoking Dante as the quintessential Italian poet. The comment acknowledged Italy’s fascist past as something best left in history, while arguing that language policy should not revive old divisions. The tone reflected a broader struggle over national identity, language, and the role of culture in public life. (Source: public statements and cultural discourse)