Thursday, June 22, 2006

Arizona to Vote on Official State Language

The Associated Press reports that Arizona lawmakers are currently considering legislation that would establish English as the "official" state language. It continues a proud tradition of such designations that include the bolo tie (the official state neckwear), petrified wood (the official state fossil) the bigot (the official state mammal) and xenophobia (the official state fear).
No word yet on what the state plans to do about the name "Arizona" itself which historians and etymologists say is most likely derived from one of three foreign tongues — the Aztec Indian "arizuma" (silver-bearing"), the Tohono O'odham Indian "aleh-zone" (small spring") or Pima "ali shonak" (which also means "small spring").

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