Spanish road signs quite correct

Firstly, we take this opportunity to thank Ms Carol Percy for her feedback on this issue. Secondly, the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago declared Spanish as the first foreign language in September 2004.

The Secretariat for the Implementation of Spanish (SIS) was launched officially in March 2005 and is responsible for implementing the SAFFL initiative. One of this unit’s goals is the creation of an immersion environment in Trinidad and Tobago so that the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago can learn and adopt SAFFL by 2020: bilingual signage is an integral part of this immersion environment creation.

Translation of bilingual signage on most public sites is usually provided by the SIS and reviewed by a team of internationally recognised translators.

On the bilingual signs which line the Churchill Roosevelt and Uriah Butler Highways, the infinitive was in fact used. The infinitive is quite correct and is used as an alternative to the command form/imperative.

The infinitive is also used on bilingual signs in numerous other parts of the world where bilingual/Spanish signage is implemented such as San Diego, Miami and even in Spain. Additionally, it is not a matter of what is correct or incorrect but rather many ways to indicate the same information.

Notwithstanding, we continue to encourage all our citizens to “Say Yes to Spanish in Trinidad and Tobago” — “?Diga que s? al Espa?ol en Trinidad y Tobago!”

Secretariat for the Implementation of Spanish

A Division of the Ministry of Trade and Industry

Level 12 Nicholas Tower,

Port-of-Spain