From
What's in a name? It turns out that question has relevance long after Shakespeare's time. In fact, it's at the center of a bill before the Texas Legislature this session.
Rep. (D-Edinburg) wants to make it so that accents 鈥� diacritical marks 鈥� can be put on state documents like driver's licenses. He makes the case that , some names are simply different altogether.The best example of this, Canales says, is his own sister鈥檚 name.
鈥淗er name is Sham茅, with an accent,鈥� Canales says. 鈥淲ithout [the accent], she鈥檚 鈥榮hame.鈥欌��
The result of the exclusion of accents on state documents is disrespectful to the constituents the state is supposed to be serving, Canales says.
鈥淭o not be able to pronounce your name correctly, I think, is a huge problem,鈥� Canales says. 鈥淵our name is what identifies you and if somebody鈥檚 not identifying you correctly, it鈥檚 almost a lack of respect.鈥�
The effort to enact this legislation is personal for him, but the sentiment to change it appeals to many Hispanic legislators who also have these elements to their names, Canales says.
His predecessor, Aaron Pe帽a, was also affected by the exclusion of accents. Canales says he once got up and put the tilde on his name on the voting board in the House of Representatives. Since then, Canales said other representatives have followed suit.
鈥淚f it鈥檚 good enough for the legislators, it sure as heck is good enough for the citizens of Texas,鈥� Canales says.
Although this practice is common in the House, Canales says not everyone is on board to turn this bill into law.
Canales says the criticism he鈥檚 received about the bill mostly concerns some people鈥檚 belief that English is the state鈥檚 official language.
鈥淏ut at the end of the day, we were Spanish long before we spoke English,鈥� Canales says.
Even if he doesn鈥檛 make ground in this fight during this legislative session, Canales says this issue is one he feels passionate enough about to continue pushing it in the future.
鈥淎nybody knows that the Texas legislature is made to kill bills,鈥� Canales says. 鈥淓veryday that passes, bills are dying on the vine. But if it doesn鈥檛 pass this session, it will definitely be a bill that I re-file.鈥�
Written by Morgan O鈥橦anlon.
Copyright 2020 KUT 90.5. To see more, visit . 9(MDAxODQzOTgwMDEyMTcyNjI4MTAxYWQyMw004))
