HLS 12RS-300 ENGROSSED
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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 46
BY REPRESENTATIVE ORTEGO
CULTURE/FRENCH: Requests that state agencies, when translating information from
English to French, make every effort to make such translations using La. French
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request state agencies, when translating information from the English language2
to the French language, to make every effort to make such translations using3
Louisiana French by utilizing dictionaries and other resources dedicated to the4
preservation and celebration of this unique language.5
WHEREAS, pursuant to R.S. 1:51, Louisiana is officially bilingual: "Any act or6
contract made or executed in the French language is as legal and binding upon the parties7
as if it had been made or executed in the English language"; and8
WHEREAS, the Louisiana French Language Services Program, provided for in R.S.9
25:671 through 674, was established by Act No. 106 of the 2011 Regular Session of the10
Legislature for purposes that include providing state government services to French-speaking11
citizens and visitors in the French language and assisting Louisiana citizens who speak12
French in dealing with and receiving services from state government so as to support the13
long-term sustainability of Louisiana's historic French cultural heritage; and14
WHEREAS, many citizens of Louisiana speak French as a first or second language,15
and, as stated in R.S. 25:671, the legislature finds that the heritage of the French-speaking16
people of Louisiana is one of the greatest treasures of Louisiana's rich cultural patrimony and17
perhaps the most significant factor in making the state's culture unique; and18
WHEREAS, the legislature further finds, as provided in R.S. 25:671, that providing19
state government services in the French language would encourage the preservation of the20 HLS 12RS-300 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 46
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state's French cultural heritage for future generations, provide important and sometimes life-1
sustaining services to French-speaking citizens and visitors, and support and encourage2
French investment in Louisiana, serving not only the state's French-speaking citizens but the3
entire state; and4
WHEREAS, in fulfilling the purposes of the Louisiana French Language Services5
Program, as well as under other circumstances, state agencies likely seek resources for6
providing translations of important information from English to French, and ideally, state7
agencies should utilize resources which offer translations from English to Louisiana French;8
and9
WHEREAS, there are resources readily available from reputable publishers and10
authors who are experts in Louisiana French; and 11
WHEREAS, Louisiana French, according to the Council for the Development of12
French in Louisiana (CODOFIL), is a "rich tapestry of the French that was spoken in the13
eighteenth century by Acadian and French immigrants and the French and African Creoles14
who came to Louisiana from the West Indies"; CODOFIL notes that Louisiana French also15
includes aspects of Spanish and English, language from local Native American tribes, and16
African vocabulary, making the accent and expressions of Louisiana French truly distinctive;17
and18
WHEREAS, Louisiana French plays a significant and singular role in the history of19
Louisiana and contributes to the state's special cultural flavor, and it is fitting and appropriate20
that it be used in English-French translations conducted by state agencies.21
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby22
urge and request state agencies, when translating information from the English language to23
the French language, to make every effort to make such translations using Louisiana French24
by utilizing dictionaries and other resources dedicated to the preservation and celebration25
of this unique language.26
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the27
commissioner of administration and to the chief executive officer of each executive branch28
department.29 HLS 12RS-300 ENGROSSED
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Ortego HCR No. 46
Requests that state agencies, when translating information from the English language to the
French language, make every effort to make such translations using La. French.