Slovaks could be fined for using poor Slovak.

(From The Slovak Spectator)

SLOVAKS who make mistakes when using their own language could face financial penalties from next year. The Culture Ministry has proposed an amendment to the existing language law which would impose fines of E100 (Sk3,012.60) to E500 (Sk150,630) for those whose use of the Slovak language does not conform to (as yet unspecified) official guidelines. If approved, the amendment would come into force on July 1, 2009, the SITA newswire reported.

The amendment would authorise the Culture Ministry to identify violators, the only exception being those on radio and television broadcasting who would be the responsibility of the Council for Broadcasting and Re-transmission, according to the proposal.

Too many foreign words

The official rationale associated with the amendment, as quoted by SITA, states that the Culture Ministry's proposal is a response to a "decrease in language culture" which is demonstrated not just by contravention of the rules of correct Slovak but by excessive adoption of foreign words -- especially from English and American English -- and their use even in circumstances where proper Slovak alternatives exist.

On November 19, Culture Minister Marek Mad'aric defended the need for such an amendment when he spoke on public-service broadcaster Slovak Television (STV). "Our Slovak language, which is today the state language, is perhaps the most precious thing we have as a nation", Mad'aric said. "Our predecessors were always aware of this but today some people tend to forget it."

According to Jozef Bednar, a spokesman for the Culture Ministry, the amendment is a requirement of the present time and situation. The existing language law, the Act on State Language dates back to 1995. It took effect in January 1996.