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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 46
BY REPRESENTATIVE ORTEGO
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request state agencies, when translating information from the English language
to the French language, to make every effort to make such translations using
Louisiana French by utilizing dictionaries and other resources dedicated to the
preservation and celebration of this unique language.
WHEREAS, pursuant to R.S. 1:51, Louisiana is officially bilingual: "Any act or
contract made or executed in the French language is as legal and binding upon the parties
as if it had been made or executed in the English language"; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana French Language Services Program, provided for in R.S.
25:671 through 674, was established by Act No. 106 of the 2011 Regular Session of the
Legislature for purposes that include providing state government services to French-speaking
citizens and visitors in the French language and assisting Louisiana citizens who speak
French in dealing with and receiving services from state government so as to support the
long-term sustainability of Louisiana's historic French cultural heritage; and
WHEREAS, many citizens of Louisiana speak French as a first or second language,
and, as stated in R.S. 25:671, the legislature finds that the heritage of the French-speaking
people of Louisiana is one of the greatest treasures of Louisiana's rich cultural patrimony and
perhaps the most significant factor in making the state's culture unique; and
WHEREAS, the legislature further finds, as provided in R.S. 25:671, that providing
state government services in the French language would encourage the preservation of the
state's French cultural heritage for future generations, provide important and sometimes life-
sustaining services to French-speaking citizens and visitors, and support and encourage
French investment in Louisiana, serving not only the state's French-speaking citizens but the
entire state; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 46
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WHEREAS, in fulfilling the purposes of the Louisiana French Language Services
Program, as well as under other circumstances, state agencies likely seek resources for
providing translations of important information from English to French, and ideally, state
agencies should utilize resources which offer translations from English to Louisiana French;
and
WHEREAS, there are resources readily available from reputable publishers and
authors who are experts in Louisiana French; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana French, according to the Council for the Development of
French in Louisiana (CODOFIL), is a "rich tapestry of the French that was spoken in the
eighteenth century by Acadian and French immigrants and the French and African Creoles
who came to Louisiana from the West Indies"; CODOFIL notes that Louisiana French also
includes aspects of Spanish and English, language from local Native American tribes, and
African vocabulary, making the accent and expressions of Louisiana French truly distinctive;
and
WHEREAS, Louisiana French plays a significant and singular role in the history of
Louisiana and contributes to the state's special cultural flavor, and it is fitting and appropriate
that it be used in English-French translations conducted by state agencies.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request state agencies, when translating information from the English language to
the French language, to make every effort to make such translations using Louisiana French
by utilizing dictionaries and other resources dedicated to the preservation and celebration
of this unique language.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
commissioner of administration and to the chief executive officer of each executive branch
department.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE