Chavez Urges Workers - Avoid English Words

February 26, 2008 · Written by Steve M · Print This Post · E-Mail This Post  

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It seems like state phone company workers in Venezuela are using some English phrases and Hugo Chavez doesn’t like it. From the AP.

President Hugo Chavez’s government is taking its battle against U.S. “imperialism” into Venezuelans’ dictionaries, urging state phone company workers to avoid English-language business and tech terms.

Through a campaign launched Monday, newly nationalized CANTV hopes to wean employees and others from words like “staff” (”equipo” is preferred), “marketing” (”mercadeo”) and “password” (”contrasena”).

Stickers and banners printed up by the company exhort Venezuelans to “Say it in Spanish. Say it with pride.”

Yeah, try being the owner of a cheesesteak shop in Philadelphia and asking people to order in English and see what happens.

Comments

2 Responses to “Chavez Urges Workers - Avoid English Words”

  1. “Speak English” Signs OK for Cheesesteak Shop : Conservative247 on March 20th, 2008 12:49 pm

    [...] using English phrases it’s still not good form in Venezuela, Philadelphia cheesesteak shop owner Joe Vento has received the blessing of the Human Relations [...]

  2. “Speak English” Signs OK for Cheesesteak Shop : Radio Vice Online on December 30th, 2008 10:51 pm

    [...] using English phrases it’s still not good form in Venezuela, Philadelphia cheesesteak shop owner Joe Vento has received the blessing of the Human Relations [...]

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